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INSECTS OF 
ECONOMIC IMPORTA 



HERRICK 




Class. 
Book. 






COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Insects of Economic 
Importance 



Outlines of Lectures in Economic 
Entomology 



BY 

GLENN W. HERRICK, 

II 

Professor of Economic Entomology, Cornell University 



ITHACA, N Y.: 

CARPENTER & COMPANY 

1915 






^^^^ 



Copyright 1915 

EY 

Carpenter & Company 



//^ 



FEB 16 1915 



'CI,A391770 



PREFACE 

Not all insects of economic importance are included in 
these outlines. To discuss them all, a book of many 
times the size of this would be needed. However, the 
principal pests of our main fruits, vegetables, cereals, 
farm animals, shade- trees, and of the household are dis- 
cussed. A brief summary of the life habits of each, so far 
as they are known, is made, and the latest methods of 
control are outlined. In addition, a concise discussion of 
insecticides is given together with formulae and direct- 
ions for making and applying them. 

Finally, references are given to the more important 
sources of information regarding the insects and their 
control. As far as possible, references are made to 
bulletins available to the general student and to those 
publications giving good illustrations of the insects, to- 
gether with the most approved methods of control. It is 
neither possible nor desirable to give references to all the , 
literature on any one insect pest but additional references 
to the later literature as it appears from time to time will 
be cited during the course. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

The science of economic entomology has made rapid 
progress during the last twenty years. It has advanced 
astonishingly in the number of persons engaged in the 
study of insects for the purpose of preventing their 
ravages, in developing and perfecting mixtures for 
repelling and killing insects, in devising effective appara- 
tus for applying insecticides, and in determining more 
exact methods of preventing the losses caused by these 
persistent pests. The following outlines of lectures 
■are intended to cover, as far as is possible in a brief, 
general course, the different phases of the subject of 
economic entomology as it exists to-day. 

OBJECTS OF THE COURSE 

(a) To become acquainted with the common insect 
pests and with their habits and life histories in order that 
they may be intelligently fought. 

(b) To become acquainted with the modern and most 
practical methods of fighting insect pests, 

TWO PHASES OF ENTOMOLOGY 

{a) The pure science of entomology. 

(b) The economic or applied science of entomology. 

The pure science of entomology is a study of the kinds 
of insects together with their relationships to each other, 
their structure, habits, and transformations. It is a work 
of culture and pleasure and forms the basis of economic 
entomology. 

Economic entomology is a study of the life histories 
and habits of injurious insects and the determination of 
some method whereby their ravages may be avoided or 
controlled. 

LOSSES CAUSED BY INSECTS 

The losses caused by insects in the United States alone, 
are estimated to aggregate more than a billion dollars 

5 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



annually. They nearly equal the yearly expenses of the 
National Government and are more than the annual cost 
of the schools of the United States. ^ 

Annual Value of Farm Crops and Losses Due to Insects^ 



Percentage 
of loss 



Amount of Loss 



Cereals 

Hay and forage 

Cotton 

Tobacco 

Truck crops 

Sugars 

Fruits 

Farm forests 

Misc. crops 

Animal products 3,000,000,000 

Forests and their products . . 
Products in storage 



3,000,000,000 
665,000,000 
850,000,000 
100,000,000 
300,000,000 
95,000,000 
150,000,000 
110,000,000 
100,000,000 



Total 



10 
10 
10 
10 
20 
10 
20 
10 
10 
10 



300,000,000 

66,500,000 

85,000,000 

10,000,000 

60,000,000 

9,500,000 

30,000,000 

1 1 ,000,000 

10,000,000 

300,000,000 

100,000,000 

200,000,000 



;?> 1, 1 82, 000,000 



Quaintance estimates the annual loss to the deciduous 
fruit interests of the United States as over $66,000,000. 

The annual loss to the people of the United States from 
malarial diseases carried by mosquitoes is not less than 
$100,000,000.^ The loss to agriculture and other indus- 
tries as a result of malaria is enormous.* 

The loss that has been caused by yellow fever, carried 
only by mosquitoes, cannot now be estimated but was 
certainly very great. 

Typhoid fever, due in large measure, at least, to its 
dissemination by the house-fly causes a very great annual 
monetary loss. 

The Mexican cotton-boll weevil costs Texas, at least, 
$25,000,000 annually, and when it spreads over the whole 
cotton area will cause a yearly loss of $250,000,000. 

The Hessian wheat-fly in 1900 cost the wheat growers 
$100,000,000. 

The chinch bug during the last 15 years from 1894 to 
1909 has caused an estimated loss of $350,000,000.^ 



^Marlatt — Yearbook, U. S. Dept. Agri., 1904, p. 461. 
^Sanderson — Insect Pests of Farm, Garden, and Orchard. 
^Howard— Bull. 78, U. S. Bu. Ent. 
^Herrick — Popular Science Monthly, April, 1903. 
^Webster— Circ. 113, U. S. Bu. Ent. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 7 

The codling moth causes the fruit growers of the U. S. 
a loss of over $12,000,000 and of New York, alone, more 
than $3,000,000 annually. 

COST OF FIGHTING INSECTS 

To the destruction occasioned by insects must be added 
the cost of fighting them. 

It is estimated that it costs $4,000,000 to spray the 
apple trees in the United States for the codling moth. 

It is said that it costs $10,000,000 annually to spray 
for the San Jose scale. 

It costs $10,000,000 to screen against the house-fly. 

The New England States and the Federal Government 
have already spent $7,000,000 in fighting the gipsy and 
brown- tail moths and at the present time, are spending 
fully $1,000,000 per anniim. 

OUR INSECT FOES ARE INCREASING 

They are coming from foreign countries — San Jose scale 
gipsy moth, Mexican cotton-boll weevil, and many others 
— unaccompanied by natural checks. ^ 

Out of 73 of our worst pests, 37 or over half have been 
imported from foreign countries. 

Insects once harmless become serious pests owing to 
changed conditions — Colorado potato beetle, blister-mite, 
white grubs. 2 

Happily, not all insects are injiurious; many of them 
are beneficial. 

USEFUL INSECTS 

Silk- worms furnish material for clothing. 

Scale insects produce a waxy material that is used in 
making shellac, and wax.^ The pulverized bodies of 
certain species furnish cochineal. 

Bees furnish honey to the annual value of $2,000,000 in 
New York alone. There are 30,000 beekeepers in New 



^Howard — U. S. Dept. Agri., Yearbook 1897, p. 529. 
^Herrick — Cornell Countryman, 1910, Vol. 8, No. 2, p. 28. 
'Comstock — Report for 1 880. 



8 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

York and 3,000,000 in the United States. Bees also aid 
in the cross-poUination of flowers. Bumblebees perform 
a notable service in cross-pollinating clover. ^ 

The Blastophaga, a minute wasp-like insect cross- 
pollinates the cultivated and wild fig, thus making possible 
the production of the Smyrna fig in California. ^ 

PREDACEOUS INSECTS 

Many species of insects catch and devour other species 
for food. These are known as predaceous insects and they 
are of immense value in aiding man in the fight against his 
insect foes.^ 

The ladybird beetles are probably the most important. 
There are several species, the two-spotted ladybird 
{Adalia bipunctata), the twice stabbed {Chilocorus hivul- 
nerus), the convergent lady bird {Hippodamia convergens), 
and other species. 

Many larvag of a family of flies, the SyrphidcE, perform 
great benefit in destroying plant lice. 

The ground-beetles {Carabidce) are exceedingly beneficial 
in destroying insects that are found upon or in the soil. 

Other beetles, flies, wasps, ants, etc., all contribute to 
the good work. 

PARASITIC INSECTS 

There are many insects that live upon or within the eggs 
or bodies of other insects and derive the nourishment 
necessary for their growth from their living hosts. These 
are called parasitic insects and they are among the best 
natural checks of insect pests."* 

One of the most interesting and effective groups of 
parasitic insects is the tachinid flies (Family- — TachinidcB) . 

Probably the greatest number of parasites are found in 
the order Hymenoptera. For example, the ichneumon- 
flies, braconid-flies, chalcis-flies and the proctotrypid- 
flies. 



'Waldron — Report of North Dakota Sub-Expt. Sta., at Dickinson, 1908. 
^Howard — U. S. Dept. Agri. Yearbook 1900, p. 79. 
^Sanderson — ^Insect Pests of Farm, Garden, and Orchard, p. 9. 
^Smith — Insect Friends and Foes. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 9 

ENTOMOLOGICAL LITERATURE 

No one volume could contain descriptions of them all. 
Twenty-five thousand or more species from N. A. 
Descriptions and life histories would fill 150 vols. 

OUR MAIN SOURCES OF INFORMATION 

1. Bulletins of the State Entomologist, Education 
Building, Albany, N. Y. 

2. Bulletins of the State Experiment Station, Geneva, 
N. Y. 

3. Bulletins of the Cornell University Experiment 
Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 

4. Bulletins of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, 
Washington, D. C. 

6. Farmers' Bulletins of the U. S. Dept. Agriculture, 
Washington, D. C. 

7. Yearbooks of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D. C. 

SOME BOOKS 

Manual of Fruit Insects, by M. V. Slingerland and 
C. R. Crosby, MacMillan Co. 

Insect Pests of Farm, Garden and Orchard, by E. D. 
Sanderson, John Wiley & Sons. 

Insects Injurious to Vegetables, by F. H. Chittenden, 
Orange Judd Co. 

Insects and Insecticides, by Weed, Orange Judd Co. 

Economic Entomology, by J. B. Smith, J. B. Lippincott 
Co. 

Insects Injurious to the Household and Annoying to 
Man, by Glenn W. Herrick, MacMillan Co. 

Manual for the Study of Insects, by J. H. Comstock, 
Comstock Pub. Co. 

NUMBER OF INSECTS 

Over 350,000 now known and described. Estimated to 
be from two to ten millions. Over 25,000 from North 
America. Several thousand are being described each 
year. 



lo INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

GROUPS CONTAINING THE PRINCIPAL INJURIOUS 

INSECTS 

1. Orthoptera — Crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, 
et. al. 

2. Hemiptera — aphids, scale insects, chinch bugs, et. 
al. 

3. Lepidoptera — butterflies and moths. 

4. Dipt era — flies. 

5. Coleoptera- — beetles. 

6. Hymenoptera — sawflies, bees, ants, wasps, et. al. 
Again, all of the injurious insects may be gathered into 

two great groups, dependent upon the structure of their 
mouthparts. These are the sucking and biting insects. 

a. Sucking insects 

These are represented by the aphids, bugs, and flies. 

b. Biting insects 

These may be represented by the grasshoppers and 
beetles. 

METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR THE CONTROL 
OF INSECT PESTS 

Ideas and practices of ancient times and peoples. 
Modern ideas and practices are based on two main 
methods, natural and artificial. 

Natural methods 

Hand-picking — tomato worms, tobacco worms, squash 
bugs. 

Cutting out by hand — peach-tree borer, apple-tree 
borers. 

Covering plants to protect them — cucumber beetles. 

Hopper-dozers^ — for grasshoppers and leaf -hoppers. 

Burlap and cotton bands — for canker-worms and 
codling moth. 

Sticky bands — for canker-worms and gipsy moth. 

Sticky shields — for leaf -hoppers. 

Barrier method — for chinch bug and army worms. 

Collecting eggs — gipsy moth and tent caterpillars. 

Collecting larvae — ^brown-tail moth. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE ii 

Burning branches and trees — for shot-hole borer, bronze 
birch borer, twig girdler, raspberry cane-girdler, et. 
al. 

Cleaning tip rubbish and weeds — for cabbage insects, 
cotton-boll weevil, plum curculio, et. al. 

Burning straw, leaves, and grass — for Hessian fly and 
chinch bugs. 

Planting early — for cotton-boll weevil. 

Planting late — for corn root -worm and Hessian fly and 
pea weevil. 

Plowing in fall — for wire worms and for white grubs. 

Rotating crops — for white grubs, for corn bill-bugs, and 
-for many pests. 

Resistant varieties of plants — Kieffer pear, Amer. 
grape stocks, spy root-stocks. 

Use of commercial fertilizers — very little if of any use 
directly. Of use in accelerating growth to hasten maturity 
and to make strong resistant plants. Phosphoric acid 
and cotton. 

Refraining from planting badly infested crops for two 
or three years — chinch bugs and wheat, boll- weevil and 
cotton. 

Isolating fields — For cotton-boll weevil, et. al. 

Mowing crops early— clover seed insects. 

Protecting birds — Birds should be protected and 
encouraged to make their homes on the farm and about 
the orchards. They help to hold the balance of nature 
and certainly aid greatly in holding insects in check. 

One hawk after a chicken condemns the whole bird 
tribe; the great homed owl is a friend of man wherever 
mice and rabbits abound, but where these are scarce, as 
in thickly populated districts the owl is driven to other 
food; the sharp-shinned and cooper's hawk are enemies 
to wild birds and chickens and should be killed; other 
hawks and owls feed mostly on mice and insects; many 
species of birds are known to live almost wholly upon 
insects. 

Insects constitute 65% of the annual food supply of the 
downy woodpecker, a very large percent of the food of 
warblers, 95% of the food of the house wren, and 96% of 



12 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

the food of the flycatchers. Three hundred to five hun- 
dred insects have been found in the stomach of one bird. 

The mobiHty of birds makes them very efficient. 
Forbes showed that in orchards where canker-worms were 
abundant birds became abnormally plentiful. 

Flycatchers and swallows live upon flying insects, while 
robins and meadowlarks catch ground insects. Cuckoos, 
orioles, warblers, and vireos devour leaf -eating insects 
while nuthatches, titmice, and creepers explore trunks of 
trees for small insects. 

References on the work of birds: 

Henshaw — U. S. Dept. Agri., yearbook 1907, p. 165. 

Beal — U. S. Dept. Agri., yearbook 1908, p. 343. 

Sanderson — New Hamp. Expt. Sta., 19th and 20th 
Rpts., 1908, p. 398. 

Forbush — Useful Birds and their Protection. 

Introduction of predaceous insects — -Predaceous 
insects, especially ladybird beetles and certain ground 
beetles are sometimes introduced into a locality to prey 
upon injurious insects. For example, the Australian 
Isi&yhvcd {Noviiis cardinalis), the ground beetle {Calosoma 
sycophanta), and the convergent ladybird {Hippodamia 
convergens) . 

Introduction of parasitic insects — Parasitic insects 
are introduced into one country from another to help in 
the fight against insect pests. For example, the many 
parasites introduced from Europe to prey upon the gipsy 
and brown-tail moths. 

Artificial methods 

Artificial methods consist mainly in the use of insecti- 
cides. 

The kind of insecticide used will depend upon the kind 
of mouthparts the pest has, whether biting or sucking. 

It will also depend somewhat upon the life history and 
habits of the pest. 

There are two mam kinds of insecticides. — (a)' Poisons 
for biting insects; (b) contact substances for sucking 
insects. Gases are also used for both biting and sucking 
insects. 



insectvs of economic importance 13 

Poisons for biting insects 

Several fonns of arsenical poisons are used for killing 
insects that eat the foliage of plants. Arsenate of lead, 
however, is more universally used in orchard work than 
any of the others. The following are some of the poisons 
employed : 



White arsenic. 
Paris green. 
Arsenate of lead. 
Arsenite of zinc. 
Arsenite of lime. 
Arsenite of copper. 
London purple. 
Paragrene. 
Hellebore. 



Arsenic 

White arsenic (AS2O3) is a white heavy powder and the 
cheapest form of a poison insecticide. Unfortunately, it 
is soluble in water and therefore will bum foliage. It can 
be used in combination with lime or Bordeaux mixture, 
however, if the proper precautions are taken. 

In the following formulas the arsenic is combined with 
lime and the material is known as arsenite of lime. 



Taft formula' 



Kedzie formula" 



1 lb. white arsenic 

2 lbs. quick lime 
2 gals, water 

Boil together for 40 min. and dilute to 300 gal- 
lons with water. 

I lb. white arsenic 

4 lbs. crystals sal soda 

I gal. water 

Boil together until dissolved — about 15 or 20 

min. Use i pint to 50 gals, water with 2 

or 3 lbs. quick lime added. 



^Woodworth and Colby — Calif. Bull. 126, p. 23. 
''Quaintance — U. S. Yearbook 1908, p. 275. 



14 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



Common formula^ 



I lb. white arsenic 
I lb. sal soda 

1 gal. water 

2 lb. quick lime. 

Dissolve the white arsenic and sal soda in the water 
by boiling all together in an iron vessel for about 15 or 
20 minutes. Use this solution while hot to slake the 
lime. Add enough water to make 2 gallons. Use 2 
quarts of this to 50 gallons of water. 

Another method of making arsenite of lime is to boil 
I pound of white arsenic and 4 pounds of quick lime in 4 
gallons of water for half an hour and then dilute to 200 
gallons of water. The arsenic may not all combine with 
the lime thus causing burning. These combinations of 
arsenic and lime have not given satisfaction when used 
with lime-sulphur. - 

Paris green 

First used against Colorado potato beetle about 1868; 
2000 to 3000 tons used every year; it is composed of 
white arsenic,^ copper oxide, and acetic acid. When pure 
it consists of 58.65% arsenious oxide, 31.29% copper 
oxide, 10.06% acetic acid. 

Paris green^ is a coarse powder and not easily held in 
suspension. It is objectionable for this reason. Not over 
3% should be soluble and it cannot be used on conifers. 
At least I pound of freshly slaked lime should be mixed 
with every pound of paris green to take up the soluble 
arsenic and prevent burning of the foliage. It cannot be 
used with fungicides containing ammonia. 

STANDARD FORMULA 

Paris green 4 oz. Paris geen i lb. 

Quick lime i lb. or Quick lime 2 lbs. 

Water 50 gals. Water 200 gals. 

Stewart recommends i pound of paris green per acre of 
potatoes whether 50 gallons or 100 gallons of Bordeaux 

iSlingerland, Herrick, Crosby — Cornell Bull. 283, p. 476. 
2Scott— Circ. 54, U. S. Bu. Pit. Ind., p. 14. 
'Lodeman — Spraying of plants, pp. 59-74. 
*Smith — New Jersey Bull. 213. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 15 

are applied. If the poison is used in water alone then 
I or 2 pounds of quick lime should be slaked and added. 

Impurities and tests for' — Paris green can be tested 
in three simple ways for impurities: i. Ammonia test. 
Paris green dissolves wholly in ammonia leaving no 
residue; 2. Glass slide test. Pure paris green jarred on 
a slide leaves a bright green streak. If impure the streak 
is whitish or pale green; 3. Microscopic test. Under 
the microscope the crystals of paris green appear like 
clean round balls. The crystals of the impurities will 
appear angular, irregular and whitish. 

Arsenate of lead- 

The paste form — Was first vised in fighting the gipsy 
moth in New England in 1893. In 1908, 2,500 tons sold. 

A compound'' of arsenic oxide and lead oxide; remains 
in suspension better than paris green; is white in color; 
will not ordinarily burn foliage; sticks to plant much 
better; several applications may injure peach foliage. 

The commercial brands vary from 12% to over 20% 
arsenic oxide^ — the average being about 15%. They 
usually contain less than 1% soluble or free arsenic. 

Some brands are acid,^ and these when mixed with 
lime-sulfur seem to form calcium arsenate which when 
decomposed forms soluble arsenic and burning results. 
Apparently arsenic is also set free from these acid brands 
under certain atmospheric conditions.^ 

Injury to foliage by arsenate of lead — The water 
in which the arsenate of lead is suspended seems to have 
some determining effect upon the injury caused.^ Dis- 
tilled water with salt added causes decided injury to 
foliage; distilled water with sodium carbonate added 
causes decided injury; distilled water alone almost no 
injury; distilled water with lime added almost no injury. 



iWoodworth & Colby— Calif. Bull. 126. 

^Burgess and Rogers — U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 87, p. 17. 

^Smith — New Jersey Bull. 213, p. 11. 

^Haywood and McDonnell — U. S. Bu. Chem. Bull. 131. 

^Wallace— Cornell Bull. 288, p. 120. 

^Volck — Science, Vol. 33, 191 1, p. 866. 

^Haywood and McDonnell — U. S. Bu. Chem. Bull. 131. 



i6 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Clear sunny weather following application seems favorable 
to injury; dew followed by sunshine seems favorable to 
injury. 

Soap, and its effect in holding arsenate of lead in 
suspension.^ 

Drying of the paste and its effect on the powers of 
suspension. 

The powdered form — An amorphous form of fine 
powder; first used in fighting the Mexican cotton-boll 
weevil; said to contain 33% arsenious oxido (Vreeland's 
Electro Brand) ; does not seem to remain in suspension 
quite as well as the paste ; very little known of its sticking 
qualities. 

Home mixture^ — ^A small quantity can be made 
advantageously at home but proper chemicals are hard 
to get. There are two formulae: 

Arsenate of soda 65% 8 oz. 

Lead acetate (sugar of lead) 22 oz. 

or 

Arsenate of soda 65% 8 oz. 

Lead nitrate 1 8 oz. 

The lead nitrate remains in suspension a little better 
than lead acetate. 

Dissolve each ingredient separately in two gallons of 
hot water in a wooden or earthen vessel; pour together 
and dilute to 50 gallons. 

ArSENITE of zinc, "ORTHO-40" 

History of and climatic conditions in the Pajaro Valley, 
Calif. ; content of arsenious oxide (40%) ; can be used on 
potatoes but burns foliage of many fruits when used 
alone. One pound of zinc arsenite equals three pounds of 
arsenate of lead.^ 

Arsenite of copper or scheele's green^ 
Differs from paris green in lacking the acetic acid. It 
is finer than paris green and consequently remains in sus- 
pension better. 

iCooley— Montana Bull. 86. 

"Haywood and McDonnell — U. S. Bu. Chem. Bull. 131. 
'Schoene — New York (Geneva) Tech. Bull. 28. 
^Lodeman — The Spraying of Plants, p. 120. 



insects of economic importance 17 

Green arsenoid and paragrene 

These are similar poisons.^ Paragrene, however, has 
a large percent (27%) of gypsum and also too much free 
arsenic — 6.12% soluble arsenious acid. 

"Slug-shot" 

This appears to be mostly composed of gypsum and 
not of much value as an insecticide. ^ 

Bug death 

Is another trade insecticide of no value for it is largely 
composed of zinc and iron oxids.^ 

Black death 

It is composed mostly of gypsum.'* 

London purple^ 

It is a waste product in the manufacture of aniline 
dyes; contains a lafge percent of soluble arsenic and 
must have lime added in liberal amounts to prevent burn- 
ing; costs only loc a pound; is not so effective as the 
copper arsenites (paris green, etc.) 

Hellebore" 

It is a whitish poisonous powder obtained from pulveriz- 
ing the roots of the white hellebore plant. It is apt to 
lose its strength quickly and often difficult to obtain fresh. 
Can be applied to ripening fruit without fear of poisoning, 
because its strength is so rapidly lost in open air. It is 
valuable for the currant worm and is usually applied dry 
either pure or mixed with flour or lime at the rate of i to 3 ; 
may be applied wet by steeping i ounce in a quart of 
water and adding another quart of cold water. 



'Woods— Maine Bull. 68, p. 176. 
^Van Slyke — Geneva Bull. 165. 
'Smith — New Jersey Bull. 214, p. 14. 
*Van Slyke — Geneva Bull. 165. 
%larlatt— U. S. Farmers' Bull. 127, p. 8. 
^Smith — New Jersey Bull. 213, p. 29. 



i8 insects of economic importance 

Poison baits 

A mixture of fruit juice, bran, and paris green for cut- 
worms, grasshoppers, and army worms has proven very 
efficient. The formula for the army worm recommended 
by the U. S. Department of Agriculture is as follows: 
I pound of paris green, 50 pounds of wheat bran and the 
juice of one-half dozen oranges. Bring this mixture to a 
stiff dough by the use of dilute molasses and scatter among 
worms. 

The formula 1 used so successfully in Kansas for poison- 
ing grasshoppers is as follows: i pound of paris green, 
20 pounds of wheat bran, 2 quarts of syrup, the juice and 
pulp of 3 oranges or lemons, and 2>% gals, water. The 
bran and paris green are thoroughly mixed while dry. 
The juice of the oranges is squeezed into the water after 
which the pulp and skin are chopped fine and added to the 
water. The syrup is then poured into the water and this 
liquid mixture of fruit juice, syrup and water is used to 
thoroughly dampen the bran and paris green. The bait 
is sown broadcast in the infested fields in the early morn- 
ing. 

A mixture of bran, 10 pounds, moistened with water, 
and I pound of white arsenic, sweetened with one or two 
quarts of molasses has proven effective for cutworms. 
Place a tablespoonful at the base of each cabbage plant 
or distribute in rows across the field. 

Freshly cut clover dipped in a strong arsenical solution 
is effective for cutworms. Renew as often as it dries. 

Slices of potatoes dusted with an arsenical distributed 
about beds in a greenhouse are effective against sowbugs. 

CONTACT SUBSTANCES FOR SUCKING INSECTS 



I. 


Pyrethrum, 


2. 


Tobacco. 


3- 


Soaps. 


4- 


Oils. 


5- 


Lime-sulfur. 


6. 


Carbolic-acid emulsion 



iDean— Jr. Ec. Ent., Vol. 7, p. 67. 



insects of economic importance 19 

Pyrethrum 

Commonly called Persian Insect Powder ^ Dalmatian 
powder, and Buhach; formerly imported from Persia 
under two first names; now manufactured in California 
under name Buhach. It is a powder made from the 
pulverized flower heads of Chrysanthemum sp.; contains 
a volatile oil and kills by contact; harmless to human 
beings and to plants. It is expensive and quickly loses 
its effectiveness when exposed to the air. Buhach is most 
apt to be fresh. It is used chiefly in greenhouses and in 
the household where it is usually sifted dry on the plants 
or in the rooms. It may be applied wet by steeping i 
ounce in a quart of boiling water for 5 or 10 minutes to 
which 3 quarts of cold water should be added. 

Tobacco 

The insecticidal power of tobacco is due to the nicotine 
it contains. Is often used as a dust^ against plant and 
animal lice and against ticks. It is said to be useful in 
controlling the woolly aphis on the roots of apple trees 
and also acts as a good fertilizer. It is a waste product of 
tobacco factories and costs about i cent per pound. 

Tobacco stems^ or leaves may be cooked or steeped in 
water to remove the nicotine and form a decoction. 
Unfortunately, the nicotine content of tobacco varies 
with the variety, soil, method of curing and other factors^ 
and it is therefore impossible, without chemical analysis, 
to make a standard decoction. In general, i pound of 
stems in a gallon of water brought to the boiling point 
and when drained off enough water added to make a full 
gallon will give a decoction of sufficient strength to kill 
plant lice. It is best to rely on commercial extracts 
whose nicotine contents are known. 

Commercial tobacco extracts — Two tobacco ex- 
tracts (liquid) are now manufactured and sold commer- 
cially under the names of "Black leaf 40" and "Nico- 



^Marlatt — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 127, p. 16. 
Coquillet— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 12, o. s. 
2Smith— N. J. BuU. 213, p. 28. 
'Ellet and Grissom — Vir. Bull. 208. 



20 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

fume". The former is a sulphate of nicotine and there- 
fore an acid material. It contains 40% nicotine, costs 
$10.75 per gallon (10 lbs.) and is usually diluted at the rate 
of I gallon to 800 or 1000 gallons of water. It may be 
combined with lime-sulfur but when so combined a 
precipitate is formed. Whether the insecticidal value of 
the tobacco extract is modified by this combination has 
not yet been accurately determined. 

The "Nico-fimie" also contains 40% nicotine but the 
latter is free and therefore more readily volatile. It is 
used in greenhouses by vaporizing it at the rate of one- 
half ounce to 2000 cubic feet. It is also used for spraying 
plants. It costs $10.50 per gallon (8 lbs.) 

SOAPS^ 

Ordinary laundry soap, i pound to 5 or 6 gallons of 
water is a good insecticide for the garden, lawn, and house- 
hold plants. Soft soap should be used twice as strong. 

Whale-oil soap is a better insecticide. One should 
always procure a potash soap. It costs 3 to 6 cents per 
pound. Use i pound to 5 or 6 gallons of water for summer 
application. In winter, for scale, use 2 pounds to i gallon. 
Whale-oil soaps vary greatly in their water content and 
are liable to contain free potash^ thus causing burning. 
Fish-oil soap can be made easily and cheaply at home. 
The composition may be known and the free potash 
avoided. 

Formula for home-made fish-oil soap :^ 

Caustic soda 6 lbs. or i)4 lbs. 

Water i}4 gals, or i}4 qts. 

Fish-oil 22 lbs. 5>^ lbs. 

Dissolve the caustic soda in the water. After the 
soda is dissolved, add the fish-oil gradually, in the mean- 
time stirring the mixture thoroughly and vigorously. 
Complete and thorough stirring while the oil is being 
slowly poured into the water and soda is absolutely 
necessary. Use i pound to 6 or 7 gallons of water. 

iMarlatt — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 127, p. 15. 
^Van Slyke & Umer — Geneva Bull. 257. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 21 

Fish-oil may be purchased of N. B. Cook Oil Co., 
New York. 

Oils 

Mineral oils are much used for contact insecticides, 
usually in some form of an emulsion that is miscible with 
water. They are' particularly valuable against aphids, 
and scale insects. 

Kerosene emulsion ^ — -Kerosene may be emulsified 
with milk or soap, the latter being now most universally 
used. 

Formula for kerosene emulsion: 

Soap I lb. Soap >^ lb. 

Soft water 2 gals, or Water i gal. 

Oil 4 gals. Oil 2 gals. 

The soap is shaved fine and heated in the water until 
dissolved. The oil is poured in and while the mixture 
is hot it is briskly agitated until a white creamy mixture 
is formed. The following dilutions apply to first formula: 

To make a 10% solution for summer spraying add 34 gals, water. 
To make a 20% solution for dormant spraying add 14 gals, water. 
To make a 25% solution for dormant spraying add 10 gals, water. 

Crude petroleum emulsion — It is made exactly as 
the kerosene emulsion. The grade of oil used is called 
"insecticide oil". It should have an amber color and 
its specific gravity should run from 43 to 45 degrees 
Beaume. A 20 to 25 percent solution is valuable as a 
winter spray. 

Oil in mechanical emulsion with waters — It has 
always been tedious to make oil emulsions and to obviate 
the labor, pumps were designed to mix the oil mechani- 
cally with water. These pumps were supposed to throw 
any per cent of oil in water desired, by the regulation of 
a valve. The pumps proved unreliable and severe 
injuries often resulted from using them. They are not 
now in use. 



^Marlatt — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 127, p. 20. 
^Marlatt — ^U. S. Farmers' Bull. 127, p. 20. 



22 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

MisciBLE oiLS^ — These are proprietary mixtures con- 
taining mineral oils in combination with a small quantity 
of vegetable oil and some alkali to make them miscible 
with water. They are designed especially for the con- 
trol of scale insects. They mix readily with water. 
There are several prominent brands: "Scalecide", "Kil- 
0-Scale", "Target-Brand", and "Orchard Brand". 

Home-made miscible oils^ — Prof. C. L. Penny has 
developed methods of preparing miscible oil at home. 
There are two steps in making a miscible oil: (i) pre- 
paring the emulsifier or soap solution, (2) mixing the 
mineral and vegetable oils with the emulsifier to produce 
the final product, miscible oil. The process is rather 
long and laborious. 

Carbolic acid emulsion 

This emulsion is formed by dissolving i pound of hard 
soap in i gallon of hot water. After the soap is dis- 
solved, add I pint of crude carbolic acid. Then agitate 
the mixture until an emulsion is formed. For use, dilute 
with 30 parts of water, 

Lime-sulfur3 

It is probably the best and most universally used 
insecticide for scale insects. It is also practically a 
specific for blister-mite and of great use in controlling 
the pear psylla, certain fungus diseases, etc. It was used 
originally as a sheep dip but was first tried as an insecticide 
in California in 1886. It was not tried in the East until 
1894 when its use did not seem to prove successful. 
Nothing more was done with the lime-sulfur wash in the 
East until 1900 when it was tried again and gave promis- 
ing results. The first formulae included salt. Later 
formulae differed somewhat in proportions, but the 
following is a representative one : Quick-lime, 20 pounds ; 
sulfur, 15 pounds; water, 50 gallons. 



iMarlatt — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 127, p. 23. 
2Penny — Ann. Rpt. Penn. State Coll., 1907-08, p. 228, 
Phillips— Va. Bull. 179. 
^Quaintance — U. S. Yearbook 1906, p. 429. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



23 



Place lime in iron kettle and slake it with hot water. 
Add sulfur and more water and boil for one hour. Dilute 
to 50 gallons, strain, and use while hot if possible. 

Concentrated commercial solutions^ — Within the 
past few years commercial concentrated lime-sulphur solu- 
tions have been introduced into this state and have been 
used by many fruit growers in combating certain insect 
pests and fungus diseases. In order to use one of these 
mixtures intelligently and effectively it becomes necessary 
to know its strength or, in other words, its degree of con- 
centration. This is best found by using an instrument 
known as a Beaume hydrometer. In testing a lime-sulfur 
solution, simply pour some of the clear reddish liquid into 
any deep receptacle, deeper than the hydrometer is long, 
and when full, gently drop the instrument into the solu- 
tion and wait until it comes to rest. Then read on the 
hydrometer the degree of concentration, which will be the 
one just at the surface of the liquid. When the degree of 
concentration of the liquid is known, the proper dilution 
may be obtained by referring to the following tables 
computed by Mr. P. J. Parrot of the Geneva Experiment 
Station. 



Reading of hydrometer 






or degree of con- 


Amount of water to one gallon of the lime-sulphur solution 


centration 






Degrees Beaume 


For San Jos6 Scale 


For blister-mite 




Gals. 


Gals. 


Gals. 


Gals. 




Lime-Sulfur 


Water 


Lime-Sulfur 


Water 


25 




5 




7 


26 




5'A 




rA 


27 




5^ 




8 


28 




6 




^A 


29 




6X 




9 


30 




6K 




9A 


31 




7K 




10 


32 




VA 




loA 


33 




8 




II 


34 




8X 




ii>^ 


35 




8K 




12 



iParrott & Schoene — Geneva Bull. 320. 



24 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Home-made concentrated solution^ — The concen- 
trated solution can be made at home with a fair degree of 
success. The Hme used should contain not less than 90% 
calcium oxid and not over 5% magnesium. The formula 
is as follows: 

{pure lime 36 lbs. 

95% CaO 38 " 

90% CaO 40 " 

Sulfur flour or flowers of sulfur 80 " 

Water 50 gals. 

Place lime in kettle and slake with 10 gallons of water. 
While lime is slaking add the sulphur which has been 
previously mixed with water into a paste. Stir thoroughly 
and when lime is entirely slaked add enough water to 
make about 60 gallons if the boiling is over an open fire. 
If the boiling is with live steam add enough water to 
make 50 gallons. Boil the mixture vigorously for one 
hour. 

When through strain; store in tight containers. 
Usually lime-sulfur will not freeze down to 5° above zero. 

For San Jose scale the diluted solution should test 
4.5 degrees B.; for the blister-mite 3.5 B.; and for sum- 
mer use on foliage i degree B. 

The concentrated solutions of lime-sulfur have shown 
themselves to be useful against San Jose scale in the 
summer even when diluted for use on foliage. ^ 

The self boiled lime-sulfur — This has been found 
to be of use in checking San Jose scale^ in the summer. 
Place 8 pounds of quick lime in a barrel and start it 
slaking with a small amount of cold water. Work 
8 pounds of sulfur through a sieve and add slowly to 
the slaking lime. Add enough cold water to slake the 
lime and stir constantly. As soon as slaking is com- 
pleted (5 to 15 min.) fill barrel with cold water (50 
gallons). Peaches and plums can be sprayed in foliage 
with. this and the scale checked if hit when young are 
hatching. 

iParrott & Schoene — Geneva Bull. 330. 

^Stewart — Ann. Rpt. Penn. State Coll. 1910-11, p. 268. 

^Quaintance — U. S. Yearbook 1908, p. 277. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 25 

Soluble sulfur — Attempts have been made to manu- 
facture a soluble sulfur compound in a dry form to take 
the place of the liquid solution. A dry form of sulfur, 
if it could be made as effective as the liquid form, would 
be very desirable. It would save freight when purchasing 
and would be easier to handle. Further investigation of 
these dry compounds is necessary. 

FUMIGATING SUBSTANCES 

Several substances are used to fumigate mills, green- 
houses and dwellings in order to destroy the insects that 
may be infesting such buildings. 

. Carbon bisulphide' — This liquid is used as a fumi- 
gant against stored grain insects especially and some- 
times against root-feeding insects, aphids, white grubs, 
ants, etc. 

It is heavier than water; readily volatile; and when 
pure it has not an unpleasant odor. The gas from the 
liquid is heavier than air and is suffocating. The gas is 
also inflammable and explosive. 

Use 2 pounds of the liquid"- to 1000 cubic feet of space 
when temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees F. 
Granary must be tight. Peas, beans, seed corn, etc., 
can be stored in barrels and treated. 

A cheap form of carbon bisulphide ■ under the trade 
name ' 'Fuma' ' , is sold by Edward R. Taylor, PennYan, N . Y. 

Hydrocyanic acid gas — It is a very poisonous gas 
used against household insects, citrus pests, stored grain 
insects, and for the fumigation of nursery stock. 

Formula for househoM fumigation for 100 cubic feet 
space : 

Water 3 oz. 

Sulfuric acid i oz. 

98% potassium c^^anide i oz. 

Formula for nursery stock for 100 cubic feet space: 

Water 4 oz. 

Sulfuric acid 66° 2 oz. 

Vq potassium cyanide i oz. 



iHinds — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 145. 

^Chittenden and others— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 96, Part III. 



26 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

For house fiimigationi all holes in rooms should be 
stopped and all cracks covered with strips of newspaper 
soaked in water. 

In fumigating trees tents are used^. In fumigating 
nursey stock for scale insects a special room is needed. ^ 

Formaldehyde gas — This is primarily a germicide. 
It has been shown to be practically useless as an insecti- 
cide. 

Tobacco papers — Paper soaked in tobacco extract 
is sold for ftimigation purposes in greenhouses. These 
papers will burn when lighted and are much more con- 
venient to use i;n. houses than tobacco stems. 

Heat* — Within the last few years heat has been used 
to some extent in mills in the western part of the United 
States, at least, to kill mill insects. According to Dean 
and Goodwin heat is a very efficient and satisfactory agent 
for destroying grain insects. The temperature necessary 
to kill stored grain insects ranges from ii8° to 125° F. 
Felt has shown that cockroaches succumb to a tempera- 
ture of 120° F. It is necessary to maintain the heat for 
several hours to allow it to penetrate all of the infested 
parts of the building. There seems to be no reason why 
heat could not be utilized in killing household insects if a 
practicable way can be found of developing a temperature 
of 120° F. in a house. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEANS OF FIGHTING INSECTS 

Trap lanterns- — Lights and lanterns have been recom- 
mended and used for many years to catch insects active 
at night. One called the Hazeltine lantern has been 
widely advertised. Several experiments have been made 
to demonstrate the usefulness or uselessness of lanterns 
for catching insects. Perhaps the most extensive one 



^Howard and Popenoe — U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 163. 

Herrick — Can. Ent. Vol. 39, p. 341. 
^Morrill— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 76. 

Woglum— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 79. 

Lowe — Geneva Bull. 181. 

'Britton — Conn. Bull, of Immediate Information No. 3. 
^Goodwin — Ohio Bull. 234. 

Dean — Kan. Bull. 189. 

Felt— 27th Rept. State Ent., N. Y. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 27 

was made at Cornell during 1892. From May 20th to 
Oct. 1st 13,000 insects were caught; 77% were neutral, 
10 2-5% beneficial, 12 3-5% often pests; of the pests, 
84 to 93% were males; of the beneficial, 80 to 88% were 
females; nymphs and larvae were not caught; as many 
friends as foes were caught; not one codling moth 
taken. 1 

In an all summer experiment Dr. Riley never caught 
a codling moth: Prof. Stedman caught only 2 with 4 
lanterns running 100 nights. 

Gasoline torches — An ordinary plumber's' torch or 
some modification of it has been proposed for killing insects, 
especially scale insects, on their food plants. Several trials 
by different experimenters on different insects indicate 
that these torches are hardly practicable. In most cases, 
the heat sufficient to kill the insects injured the plants. 

Tree tanglefoot — A sticky material manufactured 
by the O. W. Thum Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., at about 
30c per pound is the same or similar material used in 
their tanglefoot fiy paper. It is useful in putting about 
the trunks of trees to catch canker-worm moths, cater- 
pillars of the tussock moth, etc. 

Treeleim — ^A substance manufactured by the Vree- 
land Chemical Co., which is used for the same purpose as 
tanglefoot and is said not to "glass" over but to remain 
fresh and sticky a long time. 

SPRAYING 

History of spraying — The currant worm became 
injurious about i860 and the Col. Pot. beetle about 1865. 
Hellebore and paris green were used for these two pests 
and this suggested the use of the latter for other insects. 
Riley suggested its use on cotton in 1872; Le Baron 
suggested its use for the canker-worm in 1872. Cook 
advised spraying trees in 1877; E. P. Haynes, in 1878, 
sprayed trees for canker-worms and killed the codling 
moth. These were the beginnings. Our insect foes are 
increasing and we must spray. 

'Slingerland — Cornell BuU. 202. 
^Forbes— Illinois Bull. 89. 



28 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Some principles of spraying — Spray at the right 
time, before rains for most fungus diseases and after 
rains for insects alone. Watch the development of buds, 
blossoms, fruit and weather and spray accordingly and 
not by dates. Spray thoroughly. Every leaf and fruit 
should be coated. Use a nozzle, in general, that gives a 
fine spray and use at least 75 pounds pressure but better 
150 pounds. Pattern after the bugs, be ready, and in 
case of doubt spray. 

Dust sprays — Dust sprays may consist of lime, dry 
Bordeaux and some arsenical or they may consist of a mix- 
ture of sulphur and an arsenical. These sprays were 
introduced to lower the cost and labor of spraying. 
They do both but the ultimate value of them rests on their 
efficiency. 

Early experiments in dust spraying were made with dry 
Bordeaux with an arsenical. In this mixture the copper 
was the essential fungicide. The following is a formula^ 
(Scott's), for this dust spray: 

4 lbs. copper sulphate in 4 gals, water 
4 lbs. lime in 4 gals, water 
60 lbs. slaked lime dust 

Dissolve the sulphate in the 4 gallons water and slake 
the lime in the 4 gallons. When cool pour together and 
allow it to settle. Decant or pour off the liquid, put 
the wet mass in a strong bag and squeeze out the remain- 
ing water. Then spread out and allow to dry in the 
sun. Pulverize this dry material and pass it through 
a sieve with 80 meshes to the inch and then mix with the 
60 pounds of slaked lime. For Bird's formula see Mo. 
Bull. 60 or Cornell Bull. 216. 

Comparative early experiments indicated that 6 spray- 
ings with the dry material could be made as cheaply as four 
with the liquid. The dust spray can be more easily 
transported about an orchard, especially if the orchard 
is rough. It does not appear to have any other advan- 
tage, according to the early experiments. 

iScott — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 243, p. 11. 
Craig — Cornell Bulls. 216, 245. 
Close — Delaware Bulls. 72 and 76. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE • 29 

The dust spray does not control fungus diseases as 
well as liquid Bordeaux. The dust proved irritating 
to workmen, getting into their lungs. 

Crandall^ says the "dust spray is absolutely ineffective 
as a preventive of injury from prevailing orchard fungi, 
and that it is considerably less efficient as an insect 
remedy than is the liquid method of applying arsenites." 

During the years of 1913 and 19 14 the Cornell Experi- 
ment Station made some extensive experiments in spray- 
ing trees with a mixture of dry sulfur and arsenate of 
lead at the rate of 4 parts sulfur to i part of the arsenical. 
The results of the experiments during 1913 are given in 
Bull. 340 of the Cornell Station. 

PUMPS 

Atomizers, hand sprinklers, buckets, knapsacks, barrel, 
power sprayers. The essentials of a good pump are brass 
or bronze working parts, ball valves, and readily accessible 
parts. 

NOZZLES 

1 . The first nozzles threw a nearly round solid stream, 
like a garden hose. 

2. The second group of nozzles consisted of those in 
which the stream having passed the orifice proper is 
modified by some obstruction that breaks it or scatters it. 
The "climax," "Ball," and "Lewis" are examples. 

3. The third and most perfect type is known as the 
rotary or eddy -chamber nozzle. This is represented, 
typically, by the Vermorel. Later modifications are the 
"Friend" and "Mistry." It is of American origin 
although bearing a French name. 

ACCESSORIES 

Tower — A tower ten or twelve feet high is a necessity 
for good work. It enables one to get above the tree 
and spray down, which is especially necessary in case of 



^Crandall — Illinois Bull. io6. 



30 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

codling moth. The new Cornell tower has many advan- 
tages. 

Hose — There should be plenty of hose to enable one 
to get all around a tree. The hose should be of a quality 
to withstand 150 to 200 pounds pressure. 

BORDEAUX MIXTURE 

This is a fungicide with which arsenicals are often 
combined : 



Formula 



Copper sulfate 3 to 5 lbs. 

Quick lime 5 to 6 lbs. 

Water 50 gals. 



QUARANTINE AND INSECTICIDE LAWS 

Nearly all of the States in the United States have 
passed laws^ governing the shipment of plants and plant 
products into their territories. These are designed, 
of course, to prevent the introduction of injurious insects 
and plant diseases. California has in some instances 
instituted legal restrictions governing shipments of 
plants between counties within the State. Similar 
restrictions have also been imposed in some of the 
Southern States to prevent the spread of the Mexican 
cotton boll weevil from one district to another within 
the State. These laws of the different States are in- 
tended to meet local conditions and are not uniform 
which results in much confusion. 

The National Quarantine Law — For many years 
there was in this country an agitation for a uniform, 
national quarantine law to govern the importation of 
nursery stock into the United States and to regulate 
the shipment of such stock among the States themselves. 
As a result of this demand. Congress passed such a 
law-, which went into effect the first day of October, 
191 2. The law has two purposes: (i) to regulate the 
importation of nursery stock, other plants, and plant 
products from foreign countries into the United States 



iBurgess— U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 75. 

^An Act to regulate the importation of nursery stock, etc. Public — No. 275. 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 31 

to prevent the introduction of injurious insects and 
plant diseases; (2) to establish quarantines against any- 
State, territory, or district ot the United States or any 
portion thereof to prevent the distribution throughout the 
United States of any dangerous plant diseases or injurious 
insects. 

To carry out the provisions of the law, a Federal 
Horticultural Board consisting of five members was 
appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture from certain 
Bureas and offices in the Department of Agriculture. 

The National Insecticide Law — ^Various States 
have undertaken at different times to regulate by law 
the composition of certain insecticides sold within their 
boundaries. Such laws have not been uniform and have 
been, on the whole, more or less unsatisfactory. In 
19 10 Congress passed a national insecticide law that went 
into effect the first day of January, 191 1. Its object 
was to prevent the manufacture, sale, or transportation 
of adulterated or misbranded paris greens, lead arsenates, 
and other insecticides and fungicides. In this law it 
was decreed that paris green shall not contain less than 
50 per cent arsenious oxide nor more than 3^ per cent 
water-soluble arsenic and that lead arsenate shall not 
contain more than 50 per cent water, nor less than 
123^ per cent arsenic oxide (AS2O5) nor more than .75 per 
cent water-soluble arsenic. It was also decreed that 
other insecticides and fungicides should not fall below 
the proposed standard or quality under which they were 
sold. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO ORCHARD TREES 
AND FRUITS 

APPLE PESTS 

The codling mothi (Carpocapsa pomonella) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 241 

One of the oldest and most important pests on apples; 
estimated that it causes a yearly loss of $12,000,000 in the 
United States with an added $4,000,000 for cost of spray- 
ing trees to control it. 

Eggs laid on leaves and fruit two or three weeks after 
petals fall; caterpillars emerge in about one week and 
60 to 80% enter the young fruit through the calyx end; 
they live in the apple four weeks, or longer in many in- 
stances, and when full-grown leave the fruit through a 
hole made in the side of the apple; they then crawl 
to a crevice in the bark of the large limbs or trunks or 
find a nook elsewhere and spin a cocoon; here, some of 
the larvae change to pupas and issue as moths the latter 
part of July to form a second brood; a large part of 
the larvae, however, remain under the bark until the 
following spring and then change to pups from which, 
in about twenty days, the adult moths issue. 

Control — Spray at once after three-fourths of the 
petals have fallen, with 150 pounds pressure, using 
2 pounds of arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of water; 
this is the most important spraying and should be done 
thoroughly; spray from a tower into the calyx ends 
of the young apples ; spray again in 3 or 4 weeks and cover 
fruit and foliage with a fine misty spray; again the last 
week in July for second brood. 



iSlingerland — Cornell Bull. 142. 
Quaintance — U. S. Yearbook 1907, p. 435. 



APPLE INSECTS 33 

The round-headed borers (Saperda Candida) 
Order — Coleoptera. Manual p. 573 

Next after the codling moth the worst pest on apples 
in the United States; eggs laid in June, and later in in- 
cisions made in the bark ; the grubs hatch in 2 or 3 weeks 
and tunnel in the sapwood; they live mostly near the 
surface of the ground, but often below the earth, especi- 
ally in young trees; at end of the second year the larvae 
are quite large and are now deeper in the heartwood; 
the third year the larvae gnaw to the bark and there 
pupate; the adult beetles emerge in May and June, 
the insect having taken three years for its life history; 
the beetle is a handsome long-homed one, about an inch 
in length and has two conspicuous white lines the whole 
length of its body. 

Control — Give orchards clean culture ; cut out borers 
with a sharp instrument like a chisel and then apply some 
wash, for instance, concentrated lime-sulfur, or an alka- 
line wash made by adding caustic potash to soap and 
water until a thick creamy mixture is formed; washes 
should be applied up to the lower limbs and renewed once 
in 3 or 4 weeks. 

Flat-headed borer- {Chrysohothris femorata) 
Order — Coleoptera. Manual p. 549 

The second thoracic segment of the larva is wide, flat, 
and close to the head, hence the name; the larva attacks 
many kinds of fruit-trees, forest and shade-trees, infesting 
by preference those diseased or dying; it inhabits all 
parts of the trunk from ground to branches; eggs are 
laid in cracks of bark; the larva lives just beneath the 
bark and burrows out broad, flat, irregular channels 
in the wood ; as it grows it may go deeper into the wood ; 
it matures in one year and the beetles emerge in May and 
June; the adult beetle has short antennas, is of a dark 
metallic brown color, and about one-half inch long. 

Control — Same as for the round-headed borer. 



^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 32. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 32. 



34 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

The bud-moth^ (Tmetocera ocellana) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual, p. 241 

A most important pest on the apple in New York. 
The tiny dark brown caterpillars appear early in the 
spring and begin to attack the bursting buds; they bore 
into the buds and when the leaves begin to unfold attack 
those also; they continue to eat the leaves and tie them 
together, finally pupating within the tangled mass; 
the moths appear in June and lay their small inconspicu- 
ous eggs on the leaves; these hatch in about 10 days 
and the tiny caterpillars feed on the surfaces of the leaves 
eating the epidermis and tissues away leaving a network 
of veins; the caterpillar lives mostly in a tiny silken 
tube built along the midrib of the leaf; in September 
the caterpillars migrate from the leaves to the small 
branches where they build snug silken cases, called 
hibernacula, in which to pass the winter; these hiberna- 
cula are built, very often near the buds where the larvae 
will find food close at hand in the spring. There is only 
one brood a year. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead, 2 pounds 
to 50 gallons, just as the tips of the buds begin to show 
green; repeat just before blossoms open; repeat again 
after petals fall which will also do for the first codling 
moth spray. 

Cigar case-bearer^ {Coleophora fletcherella) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

The half-grown caterpillars migrate in August and 
September from the leaves to the branches where they 
securely fasten their small curved cases preparatory to 
passing the winter; in the early spring the caterpillars 
in their cases become active, move to the buds and begin 
to attack them; later they attack the very young fruit 
but mostly mine in the leaves remaining all of the time 
in their cases; about the middle of June they pupate 
and the moths appear in July; the very small moths lay 



iSlingerland — Cornell Bull. 50. 
^Slingerland — Cornell Biill. 93. 



APPLE INSECTS 35 

their eggs on the leaves; these hatch in about 2 weeks 
and the tiny caterpillars spend the remainder of the sum- 
ner mining in the leaves. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead, 2 pounds to 
50 gallons of water just as the tips of the buds begin to 
show green; again before the blossoms open; and again 
after petals fall. This is the same as for the bud-moth. 

Pistol case-bearers (Coleophora malivorella) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

Its case is shaped like a pistol and its life history is very 
similar to that of the cigar case-bearer; the larva, how- 
ever, does not mine in the leaves btit eats the surfaces of 
them. 

Control — Same as for cigar case-bearer. 

The European grain aphis^ {Aphis avenae) 
Order — Hemiptera 

This aphis is an European insect and has been ob- 
served on twenty-two plants — apple, pear, quince, plum, 
rye, oats, wheat, et al, ; it is one of the early aphids appear- 
ing in the spring on apple buds but usually leaves the 
apple without doing much harm ; it is light green in color 
with a dark line down the middle of its back. 

Passes winter as dark eggs on branches; these hatch 
in spring; may be several generations on apple leaves; 
the winged generation flies to grasses where many (13) 
generations are produced during the summer; many live 
on wheat in fall ; the winged females finally fly back to the 
apple tree in the fall and produce a generation of true 
wingless females which lay the true winter eggs on the 
bark. 

Control — No satisfactory method of destroying the 
eggs has been discovered. For the aphids spray opening 
buds with "black leaf 40", ^ pint to 100 gallons of water 



'Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 124. 
2Quaintance— U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 81. 
Davis— U. S. Bull. 112. 



36 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

with 4 pounds of soap added ; also io% kerosene emulsion 
or whale-oil soap, i pound to 5 gallons of water. Repeat 
if necessary. 

The rosy apple aphis^ {Aphis sorhi = Aphis malifoliae) 
Order — Hemiptera 

The rosy aphis is larger than the grain aphis and is 
usually of a rosy color although individuals may be tan, 
grey or blackish; the body is noticeably roundish or 
globular; it is considered quite injurious here. 

Winters as eggs upon trunk and twigs of trees; hatch 
in spring and produce probably three broods; in late 
June the winged generation goes to some unknown food 
plant; late in fall winged mothers return to apple trees 
and give birth to true females that soon lay winter eggs. 

Control — Same as foregoing species. 

Apple leaf aphis- {Aphis pomi = Aphis mali) 
Order — Hemiptera 

The leaf-aphis resembles the grain aphis; it has only 
recently made its appearance in this country (1897) 
coming from Europe but is already widely distributed; 
the males are wingless; it is considered one of the most 
injiuious forms. 

Winters as eggs on tree; wingless and winged genera- 
tions produced throughout summer on apple leaves; 
eggs laid in late fall ; probably most injurious aphis. 

Control — Same as foregoing species. 

The fall canker-worm^ {Alsophila pometaria) 

Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 276 

Moths emerge in late fall and the wingless females 
lay their eggs in large clusters on bark; eggs rest over 
winter and hatch in early May; larvae which are loopers 
and have only 3 pairs of abdominal legs feed for a month 



iQuaintance — U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 8i. 
2Quaintance— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 8i. 
^Coquillet— U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 9. 



APPLE INSECTS 37 

and in June and July go into the ground to change to 
pupae in dense cocoons, and remain here until fall when 
the moths appear again; one brood a year. 

The spring canker-worm^ {Paleacrita vernata) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 275 

Moths emerge in March and April and lay their eggs 
in small clusters in crevices of the bark ; caterpillars which 
are loopers and have only 2 pairs of abdominal legs hatch 
in May and in June and July go into the ground where 
they remain as pupae until the next spring; one brood a 
year; the female is wingless and bears several transverse 
rows of short spines on her abdomen; the spring canker- 
worm is usually the common one in New York. 

Control — Caterpillars quite resistant to poisons, yet 
arsenate of lead, 6 to 10 pounds to 100 gallons water will 
control them; also bands of sticky material, like tar, 
tanglefoot or printers' ink to prevent the females from 
climbing trees to lay eggs ; bands of fluffy cotton batting 
will serve; apply in October for fall canker-worm and in 
early spring for spring canker-worm; also plow and 
cultivate in August or September to destroy the pupae 
in the soil. 

The apple tent-caterpillar^ {Malacosoma americana) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 360 

Pass winter as eggs laid in rings around branches; 
hatch early and larvae build tents in crotches of branches ; 
when grown they make dense cocoons in secluded places 
and in about 2 weeks the moths appear and soon deposit 
eggs. 

CoNTROL^ — Collect and burn egg masses ; school children 
are often enlisted in the work of collecting the egg masses 
and thousands of the egg-rings are destroyed; spray 
infested trees with arsenate of lead 2 pounds to 50 gallons 
of water just as the buds begin to open; repeat in a week 



iQuaintance— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 68, Pt. II. 
2Quaintance— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 98. 



38 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

if necessary ; destroy wild cherry and seedling apple trees 
along the fence rows. 

The forest tent-caterpillar^ {Malacosoma disstria) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 362 

Life history is similar to former species; larvae do not 
build tent. 

Control — In addition to above use the jarring 
method. 

White-marked tussock moth^ (Hemerocampa 
leucostigma) 

Order — Lepidoptera . Manual p . 3 1 o 

Lay eggs in July on cocoons and cover them with a 
white frothy substance ; remain here all winter and hatch 
latter part of May; the caterpillar has two long pencils 
of hairs just back of the head, a similar tuft on the posterior 
end of the body, and four tufts of short white hairs on the 
back; they feed on leaves and fruit for four weeks and 
then pupate in cocoons for 10 to 14 days; the adult 
wingless female deposits eggs on cocoons; male is winged. 

Control — Collect egg clusters; spray with arsenate 
of lead 3 pounds to 50 gallons; jar trees for caterpillars; 
band trees for larvae. 

The apple maggot^ {Rhagoletis pomonella) 
Order — Diptera 

Eggs laid beneath skin of apple; small white maggots 
tunnel all through fruit; finally, when apple falls they 
go into ground and pupate. A second brood may appear 
about September ist; the" insects pass the winter as 
pupae in the soil beneath the trees; flies appear latter 
part of June. 

Control — Spray infested trees the first week in July 
with arsenate of lead, 2 pounds in 50 gallons with a gallon 

iSlingerland — Cornell Bull. 170. 
''Schoene — Geneva Bull. 312. 
^Illingworth — Cornell Bull. 324. 



APPLE INSECTS 39 

of cheap molasses added to sweeten it; repeat twice ten 
days apart on badly infested trees; renew after a rain. 
Evidence seems to indicate that the ordinary spraying of 
orchards with arsenate of lead and without sweetening 
will control this pest if the spraying is done thoroughly 
each year. 

The ribbed cocoon makers {Bucculatrix pomifoliella) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 253 

In the middle of September larvae creep to branches 
and make white, ribbed, winter cases and change to 
pupae; in May the moths appear and soon lay their eggs 
on under sides of leaves; they hatch in a week or 10 days 
and mine into leaves; they feed for 8 or 10 days and then 
emerge from the leaf and make a molting cocoon, molt 
again in 5 or 6 days, then feed again for a week and then 
spin true cocoons; two broods here. 

CoNTROL^ — Spray in March with lime-sulfur at scale 
strengths; spray in June with arsenate of lead 2}i pounds 
to 50 gallons. 

Oyster-shell bark louse" (Lepidosaphes ulmi) 
Order — Hemiptera 

They pass winter as whitish eggs underneath the brown, 
elongated, oyster-shell like scales on the bark of the 
tree; eggs hatch in May and June and the young soon 
settle and secrete their own scale; probably one genera- 
tion a year in New York. 

Control — Spraying with lime-sulfur at scale strengths 
(i to 8) for 3 or 4 successive seasons usually holds this 
pest in check. Spray for young as they hatch in May or 
June with ''black leaf 40", ^ pint to 100 gallons water 
with 4 pounds of soap added or with 10% kerosene emul- 
sion. 



^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 214. 
^Quaintance — U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 121. 



40 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

The WOOLLY aphis^ {Schizoneura lanigera) 
Order — Hemiptera. Manual p. 162 

It is of American origin and became noticeable here 
about 1850; most serious on the apple; there are two 
forms, the- trunk form and the root form; the trunk 
form occurs on lower limbs, trunk, and water sprouts. 
It causes scars on limbs but is not considered to be 
seriously injurious; the root form is very injurious to 
young apple trees when present on the roots; it causes 
swellings on roots and the roots finally decay and trees 
die; both forms secrete a white cottony secretion hence 
the name, woolly aphis. This pest of the apple is more 
serious farther south than in New York. 

The woolly aphis has a complicated life history. Some 
of the winged forms on apple in autumn fly to elm trees 
where the true females are produced, each of which lays 
an egg in a crevice of the bark where it passes the winter 
and hatches in the spring. The aphids multiply in the 
elm and cause the leaves to curl. Finally some of the 
winged forms may fly back to the apple. In the mean- 
time the aphis has maintained its foothold on the apple 
tree. 

Control — The trunk forms may be controlled with 
kerosene emulsion 15%. The root form may be con- 
trolled with 15% kerosene emulsion. The earth should 
be removed about each tree to the depth of 3 or 4 inches 
over a circle with a diameter of 4 feet ; then soak the soil 
with the emulsion and hoe dirt back; do this in late 
spring when tree is in leaf. 

Red BUGS2 {Heterocordylus malinus) 

{Lygidea mendax) 

Order — ^Hemiptera 

There are two species of red bugs that injure the fruit 
by puncturing it which causes it to fall off or become 
knotty; the life histories of both are quite similar; the 



'Marlatt— U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 20. 
^Crosby — Cornell Bull. 291. 



APPLE INSECTS 41 

eggs of both are laid during late June or early July in the 
bark of the smaller branches ; they hatch the next spring 
soon after the leaves of the fruit buds open and the 
nymphs feed upon the leaves and fruits. Greenings, 
pound sweets and spies most subject to attack. 

Control — Spray for the nymphs with "black leaf 40", 
I pint to 100 gallons of water; the efficiency will be 
increased by adding 4 pounds of soap to every 100 gallons; 
spray just before blossoms open and after they fall if 
necessary. 

Apple-seed chalcisi {Syntomaspis drupariim) 
Order — Hymenoptera 

The adult wasp-like fly punctures the fruit to deposit 
her eggs in the seed and this causes the fruit to become 
knotty; the egg is deposited inside of an apple seed in 
June; it hatches and the grub feeds on the soft kernel 
until September; it then hibernates in the hollow seed 
shell until spring when the adults appear; particularly 
injurious to early apples. 

Control — Since the grub lives over winter in the seeds 
the apples under the tree should all be collected and 
destroyed. 

The green fruit worms^ {Xylina antennata) 

{Xylina laticinerea) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

In some seasons the larv^ of several species of noctuid 
moths, attack apples and eat large holes in the sides of 
the fruit; these larvae have become known as the green 
fruit worms; the larvae appear in great numbers in May 
and June and do their damage, then go into the soil to 
the depth of i to 3 inches where they make an earthen cell 
and spin a thin cocoon and change to pupae; there they 
remain until September when the moths appear and 
pass the winter in sheltered nooks; some of the pupae 
remain all winter in the soil. The moths come from 



iCrosby— Cornell Bull. 265. 
^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 123. 



42 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

their hibernating quarters or from the soil in March and 
April and lay their nearly globular, ridged eggs singly on 
the apple and pear branches. The larvae are. not noticed 
until they become half grown and are then hard to kill. 
CoNTROL^ — If the trees are known to be infested they 
should be sprayed just as the tips of the buds show green 
and again just before the blossoms open with arsenate of 
lead, 3 pounds to 50 gallons of water or lime-sulfur. 

The pear-leaf blister-mite^ (Eriophyes pyri) 
Order — ^Acarina 
This mite has become a serious pest of apple trees in 
New York State within the last few 3'ears; it is fully 
discussed under pear pests. 

Fruit-tree leaf-roller- {Archips argyrospila) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

Eggs laid in small patches on branches of trees in June ; 
larvae hatch next spring and attack buds and roll leaves 
together and eat into sides of fruit; pupate in rolled 
leaves with a flimsy cocoon; moths appear in June and 
July and lay eggs in great numbers on the branches where 
they remain until the following spring. This insect is 
exceedingly injurious when once established in an orchard. 
It attacks apples, pears, cherries, and other fruits. 

Control — Spray the trees infested with eggs just 
before the buds start with a miscible oil, i gallon to 15 
gallons of water. Follow this with arsenate of lead, 3 
pounds to 50 gallons just as soon as the tips of the buds 
show green, and again before the blossoms open. The 
spraying should be done thoroughly. 

Apple curculio^ {Antho7iomus quadrigihhus) 
Order — Coleoptera 
Mainly injurious in Central States; eggs laid in fruit 
while small; larvae feed on tissues of apple for three 

iParrott— Geneva Bull. 283. 
^Herrick — Cornell Bull. 311. 
^Crandall— Illinois Bull. 98. 



APPLE INSECTS 43 

weeks; pup« formed in apple and after about one week 
adult beetles emerge. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead, 3 pounds to 
50 gallons just after petals fall and repeat in ten days; 
clean up old fences and hedgerows near orchard. 

Trumpet leaf-miner^ (Tischeria malifoliella) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 249 

Eggs laid on leaves; larvae gnaw through egg directly 
into the leaf and begin making their trumpet-shaped 
mines in the leaves; four generations in latitude of Wash- 
ington, probably two here; larvas of last generation pass 
winter in mines in fallen leaves and pupate in spring. 

Control — Plow the leaves under or rake them and 
burn; spray infested leaves during June with "black- 
leaf -40," I pint to 100 gallons of water with 4 pounds of 
soap added. 

Fall web-worm" {Hyphantria cunea) 

Order — Lepidoptera. Manual, p. 321 

Eggs laid during June or July in clusters on leaves; 
larvae build web nests all over trees; they pupate in 
September in flimsy cocoons hid away in cracks and 
crevices ; in these the pupae pass the winter, the moths 
appearing in May or June; farther south there are two 
broods. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead, 3 pounds to 
50 gallons of water as soon as the young caterpillars are 
seen; collect cocoons during winter. 

The red-humped apple-worm^ {Schizura concinna) 

Order — Lepidoptera. Manual, p. 267 

Eggs laid in large white clusters on leaves in July; 
larvae feed in colonies on a branch ; they pupate in ground 



iQuaintance— U. S. Bu. Ent. BulL 68, Pt. in. 
Jarvis — Conn. (Storrs) BulL 45. 
-Sanderson — New Hampshire BulL 139. 
^Sanderson — New Hampshire Bull. 139. 



44 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

and lie there all winter; the moths emerge in June and 
July. 

Control — Burn caterpillars with rag torch or spray 
with arsenate of lead 3 pounds to 50 gallons. 

Yellow-necked caterpillars ^ {Datana ministra) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual, p. 265 

Eggs laid in large white clusters in June and July; 
larvas are gregarious and often occur in large clusters on 
single branches; pupate in the earth in August and 
September where they remain until the following spring; 
moths appear in June and July. 

Control — Same as for the red-humped caterpillars. 

The PALMER- W0RM2 {Ypsolophus ligulellus) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

This is an insect that appears occasionally in in- 
jurious numbers; the larvse destroy foliage and eat into 
fruit during June; moths appear first part of July and 
evidently live over winter until following spring; eggs 
laid mostly on undersides of leaves. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead 2 pounds to 
50 gallons when petals have three-fourths dropped and 
again in three weeks. 

Buffalo tree-hopper^' {Ceresa buhalus) 
Order — Hemiptera 

Eggs laid in July and August in slits made in the bark 
of branches ; characteristic oval scars are left ; eggs hatch 
the following July; the nymphs feed on succulent weeds 
in orchard; branches of affected trees become weakened 
and break off. 

Control — Clean culture in and about the orchard to 
starve nymphs ; careful and judicious pruning of infested 
branches. 



'Sanderson — New Hampshire Bull. 139, 
^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 187. 
^Hodgkiss — Geneva Tech. Bull. 17. 



PLUM INSECTS 45 

The plum curculio — An important enemy to the 
apple. It causes knotty, scarred fruit and is apparently 
increasing as a pest to the apple. See plum pests for full 
discussion. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE 

The apple weevil {Pseudanthonomus cratcegi). 

The fringed-wing apple bud-moth {Holcocera maligem- 
mella) . 

The apple bud-worm (Exartema malaniim) . 

The oblique banded leaf -roller {Ar chips rosaceana) . 

The leaf-crumpler (Mineola indigenella). 
■ The lime-tree span-worm {Erannis tiliaria). 

Bruce's measuring- worm (Rachela bruceata). 

The gipsy moth {Porthetria dispar). 

The brown-tail moth {Euproctis chrysorrhcea). 

The apple leaf -hopper (Empoasca mali). 

The bronze apple-tree weevil {Magdalis cenescens). 

PLUM PESTS 

At least 50 species of insects may feed upon the plum 
tree and its fruit. 

The plum curculio^ {Conotrachelus nenuphar) 

Order — Coleoptera. Manual, p. 593 

The adults hibernate in protected places along hedge- 
rows, fences, etc., and appear in spring; they feed upon 
fruit making shallow circular feeding punctures; they 
soon begin depositing eggs in the fruit, making a crescent- 
shaped cut beneath each egg; grubs hatch in 3 to 7 days 
and live in the fruit for about 20 days ; the fruit usually 
falls to the ground and the grubs enter the soil from i to 3 
inches and pupate ; in July and August the adults appear 
and eat holes in the sides of apples, at least ; these holes 
are usually surrounded by a dark ring of skin; beetles 
finally hibernate. This pest attacks apples, cherries, 
plums, pears. 



iCrandaU— 111. Bull. 98. 
Quaintance^and Jenne — U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 103. 



46 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Control — Remove all fences, hedgerows, stone walls, 
etc., along sides of orchard; sunlight is fatal to larvae, 
hence judicious pruning of trees and clean cultivation 
useful ; cultivate orchards in July and August to kill pupae ; 
spray with arsenate of lead 2yi pounds to 50 gallons of 
water just after petals fall and again ten days after. 

Plum scale ^ {Lecanium corni) 
Order — Hemiptera. 

Eggs are laid in May and June and hatch mainly in 
July; the young insects live on the leaves during the 
summer but migrate to the branches in the fall before the 
leaves drop; the young hibernate here but in the spring 
usually move to the smaller branches where they com- 
plete their growth by the latter part of May. 

Control — Spray young scales about July ist with 
10% kerosene emulsion or " black-leaf 40" , i pint to 100 
gallons of water with 4 pounds of soap added; spray 
young scales on branches just before buds burst with a 
miscible oil, i gallon to 15 gallons water. 

The plum gouger^ {Coccotorus scutellaris) 
Order — Coleoptera . 

Occurs particularly in the Northern Mississippi Valley. 
Adults hibernate over winter and appear in early spring 
when they feed on buds and leaves; later make feeding 
punctures in fruit and finally deposit eggs in cavities dug 
in fruit ; larvae bore into pit and feed on kernel ; change 
to pupae in pits and beetles emerge in August and Sep- 
tember; principal injury caused by punctures made by 
beetles in feeding and egg-laying. 

Control — Probably thorough spraying with arsenate 
of lead will be effective. The first application should be 
made just before the blossoms open. 



^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 83. 
^Cooley— Mon. Bull. 62. 



PEAR INvSECTS 47 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE PLUM 

Plum leaf -miner {Nepticula slingerlandelld) . 
American plum-borer (Euzophera semifuneralis) . 
Plum web-spinning sawfly {Neurotoma inconspiciia). 
Plum plant-louse {Myzus mahaleb). 
Rusty brown plum aphis {Aphis seta nee). 
Mealy plum louse (Hyalopterus arundinis). 
European fruit-tree scale {Aspidiotus ostreceformis) . 

PEAR PESTS 

The pear-leaf blister-mite^ {Eriophyes pyri) 
Order — Acarina 

This is an European pest originally confined to the 
pear but now an important pest on apple in New York; 
it is a small, light-colored, four-legged animal about 1-125 
of an inch in length; it hibernates in the buds beneath 
the bud-scales; in the spring the mites become active 
and go to the unfolding leaves into which they burrow 
and make small brown, almost black, galls or blisters on 
them; the mites live inside the galls in the tissues of the 
leaves and lay their eggs there; the young are produced 
in the galls but emerge later and form other blisters; 
affected leaves turn yellow and drop, thus injuring the 
tree. 

Control — Spray trees in fall or spring with lime- 
sulfur, I gallon to 10 or 12 of water. 

The pear psylla^ (Psylla pyricola) 
Order — Hemiptera. Manual, p. 156 

A very fluctuating pest introduced from Europe upon 
young pear trees about 1 832 ; very injurious in central and 
western New York and along the Hudson; the orange- 
yellow eggs are deposited in creases in the bark mostly 
before the buds burst ; the eggs hatch usually during the 
first two weeks of May; the nymphs suck juices from 
leaves and stems of young fruit; they secrete great 

'Parrott — Geneva Bull. 306. 
^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 44. 
Hodgkiss — Geneva Biill. 387. 



48 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

quantities of honey-dew in which a fungus thrives and 
forms a black coating all over the branches ; the nymphs 
mature in about one month and the adiolts appear; 
there may be four broods in a season; the adults of the 
last brood winter over in the crevices of the bark. 

Control — Scrape rough bark from trees and spray in 
November or December or March or early April with 
"black leaf 40," Y^^ pint to 100 gallons and 5 pounds of 
soap ; miscible oil may also be used at the rate of i gallon 
to 15 of water; spray on warm days when the tempera- 
ture is not freezing; spray last of April or early May as 
buds are bursting with lime-sulfur at winter strengths 
to kill eggs. Spray for nymphs with "black-leaf 40," 
Ya, pint to 100 gallons with 5 pounds of soap; practice 
clean culture. 

The pear slug^ {Eriocampoides limacina) 
Order — Hymenoptera 

Eggs laid in June in the leaf, hatch in 2 weeks and the 
slugs become full-grown in 4 or 5 weeks, when they shed 
their green skin for a yellow one and go into ground to 
pupate; the flies emerge in about 2 weeks; two broods, 
first in June and second in August; hibernate as con- 
tracted slugs in their cocoons in soil. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead, 2 pounds to 50 
gallons of water. 

The SAN JOSE scAhE" {A spidiotus perniciosus) 

Order — Hemiptera 

One of our worst pests on fruit trees; first established 
in this country at San Jose, Calif.; widely distributed 
over the United States and infests apple, peach, pear, 
plum, currant, etc.; first described by Professor Com- 
stock in 1880; first discovered in the eastern United 
States in 1893; its original home is in China. The 
insects pass the winter in an immature form — three- 

iMarlatt— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 26. 
2Quaintance — U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 124. 
Britton — Conn. Bull. 165. 



PEAR INSECTS 49 

foiirths grown — on the branches of infested trees under 
small, circular, almost black scales; young are born in 
the spring, in June, for first generation; there may be 
four or five generations during a season. 

Control — Spray with lime-sulfur, fall and spring; 
spray old rough-barked trees with one application of 
25% oil emulsion; summer strengths of lime-sulfur 
are effective when young are hatching. 

The scurfy bark-louse^ {Chionaspis furfura) 
Order — Hemiptera 

The female scales are large, elongated and dirty white ; 
the male scales are small, long and narrow and have 
three ridges running lengthwise; the female matures 
toward fall and lays 60 to 80 purplish eggs beneath the 
scale which remain there until the following spring; 
the female gradually shrivels and dies as she lays her eggs ; 
there is one brood a year; this pest occurs on apple as 
Vv^ell as pear but it is not considered seriously injurious. 

Control — Spray when the eggs are hatching and the 
young are appearing with "black leaf 40," i pint to 100 
gallons of water with 4 pounds of soap, or with whale-oil 
soap, I pound in 5 gallons of water. 

The pear midge^ {Contarinia pyrivora) 

Order — Diptera 

The adult insects which resemble miniature mosquitoes, 
and are related to the Hessian fly, appear in the spring 
when the buds are bursting and lay their eggs through 
the petals and calyx on the anthers of the unopened 
flowers; eggs hatch in 4 or 5 days; the maggots work 
their way to the core of the developing pear and eat into 
the flesh in all directions ; they cause the fruit to become 
misshapen; when the maggots are full-grown, about 
June 1st, the pears crack open and allow them to escape 
to the ground, where they change to pupae and remain 



^Quaintance and vSasscer — U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 121. 
2Smith— N. J. Bull. 99. 



50 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

in the ground all winter; one brood a year; now occurs 
in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, being confined 
to the Hudson River Valley in New York. 

Control — Pick and destroy all misshapen infested 
fruits before May 15th; use kainit, one-half ton per acre. 

The pear thrips^ {Euthrips pyri) 
Order — Thysanoptera 

The thrips was first discovered in California where it 
has caused much injury; it was first discovered in New 
York in the Hudson River Valley in 191 1 although 
probably had been present there for some years before; 
the thrips pass the fall and winter in the soil and the 
adults appear in the spring; they injure the opening 
buds and lay their eggs in the tissues of the fruit stems 
and leaves; the larvae feed mainly on the young leaves; 
after feeding about two weeks they go into the ground 
but do not change to pupae until about October. 

Control — Spray swelling, partly open and fully opened 
buds with "black leaf 40," f^ pint to 100 gallons water and 
5 pounds soap; spray on successive days or every few 
days until probably 2 or 3 applications have been made. 

The sinuate pear borer- {Agrihis sinuatus) 

Order — Coleoptera 

First discovered in New Jersey in 1894; ^ow seriously 
injurious in lower Hudson Valley ; the female deposits her 
eggs in crevices of the bark or under the bark scales; 
these hatch in early July and the slender whitish grubs 
make winding burrows in the sapwood; the larva rests 
during the winter but the next year it makes larger and 
more winding bm-rows which frequently cut ofT the supply 
of sap and kill the tree ; the larva passes another winter in 
the tree changing to a pupa in the following spring; the 
slender bronze-brown beetles emerge the last of -May and 
during June. 



iParrott — Geneva Bull. 343. 

iSmith— 15th Ann. Rept. N. J. Agri. Expt. Station. 



PEACH INSECTS 51 

Control— Adults feed on leaves which suggests spray- 
ing with arsenate of lead after the petals fall; the spray- 
ing should be continued during successive years. 

The false tarnished plant-bug' (Lygus invihis) 
Order — Heniiptera 

This insect has for years caused more or less injury to 
pears in New York State ; the nymphs puncture the young 
fruit, thus causing it to become deformed and knotty; the 
tissue surrounding the puncture becomes hardened and 
gritty; the eggs are deposited in the young pear branches. 

The adult is about X i^^h in length, very similar to the 
tarnished plant-bug and is light brownish in color; the 
winter seems to be passed in the egg stage. 

Control — Spray about the time the petals are falling 
with "black leaf 40", % pint to 100 gallons of water to 
which are added 3 or 4 pounds of soap. Repeat, if 
necessary a few days later. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE PEAR 

Pear-blight beetle {Xyleborus dispar). 
Codling-moth {Carpocapsa pomonella). 
Green fruit-worm {Xylina antennata). 
San Jose scale {Aspidiotus perniciosiis) . 
Cigar case-bearer {Coleophora fletcherella) . 
Howard scale {Aspidiotus howardi). 
Fruit-tree leaf -roller {Ar chips argyrospila). 

PEACH PESTS 

At least 25 different insects attack the peach tree. 

The peach-tree borer- {Sanninoidea exitiosa) 

Order — Lepidoptera. Manual, p. 260 

This pest is found in every state where peaches are 

grown east of the Rocky Mountains ; it is a native insect 

and may attack the cherry, plum, prune, apricot, almond, 

and nectarine. 



iParrott and Hodgkiss — New York (Geneva) Bull. 368. 
'^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 176. 
Smith — New Jersey Bull. 235. 



52 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

The eggs are deposited on the bark of the trunks of 
trees in July and later; they hatch and the young larvae 
find a crevice through which they gnaw their way into 
the inner bark; here they work in the inner bark and sap- 
wood, usually just below the surface of the ground; 
they often girdle young trees; the borers become half or 
tworthirds grown by fall and hibernate, either in their 
burrows or in hibernacula until spring; they become 
active and complete their growth by first part of June in 
New York and transform to pupae ; " some larvae seem to 
live over another year; the larvae make large cocoons at 
the surface of the ground and the moths emerge from 
latter part of June to August; the moths are clear- 
winged, shy and not often seen; the female has two 
orange-yellow bands on abdomen. 

Control — Dig out the borers before June 15th of 
each year; Smith says, after borers are dug, spray the 
trunks with lime-sulfur at winter strengths with an 
excess of lime added and with i pound arsenate of lead 
to 5 gallons of the mixture. Spray with force into 
crevices of bark and then hill up 6 inches around base of 
tree; gas tar is sometimes used but some danger in it. 
A mechanical protector made of roofing paper and placed 
about trunk of tree said to be very efficient. 

b 

The BLACK PEACH APHisi {ApMs persicce-niger) 
^ Order — Hemiptera 

The full-grown aphids are black but the younger ones 
are reddish-yellow or amber in color; the lice appear 
early in the season and confine their attacks to the tender 
bark of the twigs; later they attack the blossoms and 
blight them ; they also attack the young peaches causing 
them to wilt and drop; the leaves also curl; the aphids 
leave the branches in the latter part of June; they are 
said to pass the winter on the roots of the tree reinfesting 
the tree again in spring ; this species often gets into this 
state on trees from nurseries in New Jersey, Maryland, etc. 



^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 49, p. 325. 



PEACH INSECTS 53 

Control — Require nursey stock to be fumigated or 
dip the roots after freeing them from dirt in 15% kerosene 
emulsion for 2 minutes only or in "black-leaf -40," i ounce 
to 5 gallons. 

The fruit-tree bark-beetle^ (Eccoptogaster rugulosiis) 
Order — Coleoptera 

Peach, cherry, plum and apple trees are often found 
with many small, round holes in the bark of the trunks 
and branches, due to the attacks of this small black beetle 
about one-tenth of an inch long; when trees are first 
attacked masses of gum exude; diseased or weakened 
trees are most liable to attack but healthy trees are also 
subject to attack; the parent beetle bores through bark 
and excavates a burrow beneath, along the sides of which 
she digs tiny niches in each of which an egg is deposited; 
the eggs hatch and each grub excavates a long burrow 
as it grows but finally changes to a pupa and the audit 
emerges cutting a round hole in the bark; at least two 
generations a year; passes the winter as a larva; very 
injurious and hard to control; also called the shot-hole 
borer. 

Control — Maintain vigorous healthy trees by proper 
cultivation and fertilization; cut down and burn all 
trees beyond hope and cut off all badly infested branches 
from other trees; clean up hedgerows on the borders of 
orchards; apply thick coat of whitewash three times a 
year to protect trees, last of March, first part of July, and 
first of October. 

The peach-tree bark-beetle^ (Phlceotribus liminaris) 

Order — Coleoptera 

This is another species very similar in appearance to 
the former, works in much the same way on peach trees 
but not so prevalent in New York; hibernates as adults 
in cells just beneath outer layer of bark on both healthy 



iChittenden — U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 29. 
^Wilson— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 68, Pt. 9. 



54 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

and unhealthy trees; in early spring they come out and 
migrate to trees, wood piles, brush heaps, etc., wherever 
they can build their brood chambers ; 2 broods a year. 

The peach twig-borers (Anarsia lineatella) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

Apparently not a serious pest here ; more serious farther 
south and in California; the half -grown larvae hibernate 
in cells just under the outer bark, mainly in crotches of the 
branches; in the spring the larvae emerge and attack the 
new leaf shoots into which they burrow ; there are several 
broods a season some of which attack the stems of the 
fruit and some the fruit itself; the last brood of larvae 
go into hibernation in cells in the bark ; the moth is only 
a little over half an inch in expanse of wings and of a 
dark grey color. 

Control — Lime-sulfur i to 10 and i to 11 applied in 
the spring after the buds have begun to swell seems 
effective in California and Colorado; also arsenate of 
lead, 5 pounds to 50 gallons, applied when the majority 
of the blossom buds are showing their pink tips seems 
effective in Colorado. 

Green peach aphis- {Myzits persicce) 
Order — Hemiptera 

Described under a multitude of names; feeds on 60 
different plants; most abundant peach louse; spends 
winter in egg stage on tree; eggs hatch in early spring 
and young go on the buds; the third generation leaves 
for other plants. 

Control- — Spray with "black leaf 40," }i pint to 100 
gallons of water with 4 pounds of soap or with whale-oil 
soap, I pound to 5 gallons or with 10% kerosene emulsion. 



iMarlatt— U. S. Farmers' Bull. 80. 
Clarke— Calif. Bull. 144. 
^Gillette— Colo. Bull. 133. 



PEACH INSECTS 55 

The peach lecanium^ {Lecanium nigrofasciatum) 
Order — Hemiptera 

The "Terrapin scale" affects peach, plum, apple, maple, 
sycamore, linden, and birch; it winters as a nearly grown 
female on the branches; these mature early in spring 
and lay eggs; the young continue their growth slowly 
until fall when they hibernate; only one generation a 
year ; this insect is apparently not abundant in New York ; 
affected trees take on a sooty appearance due to a black 
fungus that flourishes in the honey-dew excreted by the 
insects. 

Control— Lime-sulfur is not effective ; kerosene emul- 
sion 20 to 25% applied just before buds burst will kill 
the hibernating females; the miscible oils i to 15 just 
before the buds burst are effective and can be applied to 
everything except peach; probably "black leaf 40," i pint 
to 100 gallons of water, with 4 pounds of soap applied 
when the young are just appearing from the eggs will be 
effective. 

The tarnished plant-bug^ {Lygus pratensis) 
Order — Hemiptera 

This widespread bug evidently attacks the fruit of 
peaches in some years puncturing the epidermis and 
scarring the surface of the fruits ; as a result gum exudes 
and the peaches soon become unfit for the market; 
the bug evidently attacks mostly peaches on trees stand- 
ing in uncultivated orchards or about the edges of orchards 
among grass and weeds; it is very injurious to young 
peach trees in the nursery row; it punctures the buds 
and tender growing tips thus producing a stunted stragg- 
ling young tree ; it also attacks apples causing dimples in 
them. 

The adult is a dull yellowish or greenish bug mottled 
with reddish-brown and about one-fifth inch in length ; the 
eggs are inserted in the tender tips or petioles and veins 



^Sanders— U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 88. 
^Crosby and Leonard — Cornell Bull. 346. 



56 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

of leaves; the life cycle is probably about 45 days and 
there are probably several generations a year. 

Control — Clean cultivation is the only known method 
of control. 

The plum curculio^ — ^An important pest on peaches 
because it not only punctures the fruit but carries the 
spores of brown-rot and makes wounds through which 
the brown-rot enters. The self -boiled lime-sulfur for 
control of brown-rot with arsenate of lead added at the 
rate of 2 pounds to 50 gallons of the mixture has given 
good results in the control of these pests. The arsenate 
of lead combined with the self -boiled lime- sulfur does not 
seem to be as injurious to peaches as when used alone. 
The first application should be made about the time the 
calyces or shucks are falling and the second two or three 
weeks later. It is doubtful if a third application of poison 
is advisable. 

The San Jose scale — ^Very injurious to peach trees; 
discussed under pear pests. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE PEACH 

Lesser peach-tree borer {Sesia pictipes). 
White peach scale (Aulacaspis pentagona). 
San Jose scale {Aspidiotus perniciosus) . 
Fruit-tree leaf -roller (Archips argyrospila). 
Apple-tree tent-caterpillar {Malacosoma americana). 
Peach saw-fly {Pamphilius persicus). 

QUINCE PESTS 

The QUINCE curculio^ {Conotrachelus cratcegi) 

Order — Coleoptera 

This insect is a native one and its nattiral food is the 
hawthorn ; it also attacks pears and is widely distributed 
throughout the eastern, central, and extreme western 
portions of the United States. 



iScott and Quaintance — U. S. Bu. Ent. Circ. 120. 
^Slingerland— Cornell Bull. 148. 



CHERRY INSECTS 57 

The winter is passed in the grub stage in small cells 
2 or 3 inches below the surface of the earth; the grubs 
change to pupae in the spring; the beetles appear from 
last week in May in some seasons to last week in July 
in others ; the beetles feed on young fruits for some days 
and then deposit their eggs in the fruit; the larvas feed 
on the tissues of the quinces and when full-grown emerge 
through a hole and drop to the ground. 

Control — No good method of control known; jarring 
of trees recommended; also spraying trees just after 
blossoms fall and again in lo days. 

The bud moth — -This is also quite a pest of quinces; 
discussed under apple pests. 

The pear slug — This occurs on quince trees but may 
be controlled as recommended under pear pests. 

The codling moth — ^This common apple pest is often 
quite a serious pest in quinces; it can doubtless be con- 
trolled as on apples. 

The round-headed apple-borer — This is seriously 
injurious to quince trees but is subject to the same 
methods of control as on the apple. 

CHERRY PESTS 

As many as 46 different pests may attack the cherry 
tree. 

The black cherry louse^ {Myzus cerasi) 
Order — Hemiptera 

This is an old European pest and has been here for at 
least 50 years; the young lice appear about the first of 
June on sprouts and lower limbs of trees ; the lice increase 
all through June until sometimes they become very 
abundant; then they seem to disappear, only scattered 
colonies remaining here and there; in September winged 
forms again appear; the cherry foliage may sometimes 



'Gillette — Colo. Bull. 133, p. 42. 



58 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

be blackened with these Hce; the winged and wingless 
forms are deep shining black and the body is rather broad 
and flat; they curl leaves badly. 

Control — Spray with "black leaf 40," ^ pint to 100 
gallons of water with 4 pounds of soap added before leaves 
curl; spray thoroughly. 

The cherry fruit-flies ^ {Rhagoletis. cingulata) 

{Rhagoletis fausta) 
Order — Diptera 

These flies are very similar in appearance to the apple 
maggot fly; the eggs are inserted beneath the skin of the 
cherries just about the time they begin to redden; in- 
fested cherries do not show any effects of the egg laying or 
of the maggot within for some days; when cherries are 
left on tree or picked a portion of each fruit will rot and 
sink in on the side; the maggot is yellowish-white and 
a little over a quarter of an inch long ; it is straight while 
the larva of the curculio that lives in cherries is usually 
more or less curved ; the maggots leave the fruit when full- 
grown and enter the ground where they change to pupae 
and remain until the following spring; there is only one 
brood a year; the insects seem to attack all varieties of 
cherries whether sweet or sour, early or late. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead, 5 pounds, 
water 100 gallons, and 3 gallons of molasses; apply just 
as cherries begin to redden or when flies first appear; 
only a quart or two of the mixture to a tree is needed ; if it 
rains repeat in a week or ten days. There is evidence to 
show that arsenate of lead alone in water will control 
this insect. 

The cherry-tree leaf-rollers {Archips cerasivorana) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

This pest is often seen on choke cherries; the eggs are 
laid in patches on trunks or branches near the ground; 



^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 172. 
Illingworth — Cornell Bull. 325. 
^Herrick — Cornell Bull. 311, p. 290. 



CHERRY INSECTS 59 

they remain here unhatched until the following spring; 
when they hatch the green larvae crawl up to the branches 
where they begin to draw the leaves toward each other 
and tie them together with silk; in this way they build 
large ugly nests, inside of which they live and eat the 
leaves; the larvse pupate in these nests and the moths 
appear in June and July ; one brood a year. 

Control — Cut out nests and bum before moths appear. 

Cherry leaf-miners {Profeniisa collaris) 
Order — Hymenoptera 

The larvae mine in the leaves of cherries; interior of 
leaves all eaten out and leaf then turns brown and a large 
"blister" is formed; principal damage occurs during last 
week of May and early part of June; the larvae go into 
ground to hibernate. 

Control — Plow and cultivate ground in late fall to 
destroy larv«. 

Shot-hole borer — Discussed under peach pests. It 
is often a serious pest on cherries. 

The pear slug — Often a serious pest on cherries; 
\ discussed under pear pests. 

The plum curculio — Often a serious pest on cherries; 
discussed under plum pests. 

Control — Spray sour cherries with arsenate of lead, 
3 pounds to 50 gallons just after petals fall as the young 
cherries are bursting through the calyces; sweet cherries 
may need to be sprayed twice, ten days apart. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE CHERRY 

Cherry fruit-sawfly {Iloplocampa cookei). 
Forbes' scale {Aspidiotus forhesi). 
Fruit-tree leaf -roller (Archips ar gyros pila). 
Oblique banded leaf-roller {Archips rosaceana). 



'Parrott — Proc. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. for 1912, p. 122. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO SMALL FRUITS 
GRAPE PESTS 

Over 100 insects recorded in this country on the vine. 

The grape phylloxera^ {Phylloxera vastatrix) - 
Order — Hemiptera 

This insect has always existed in this country on wild 
vines but not very injurious here; very destructive in 
France; it exists in two forms, one on the leaves and one 
on the roots; the root form is much the more injurious 
one. 

The true sexual eggs are laid in the fall on old wood and 
hatch the following spring ; the young lice go to the leaves 
and form galls on the lower sides ; in these galls a female 
may lay 500 or 600 eggs ; there may be 6 or 7 generations 
a season on the leaves; in fall young pass to roots and 
winter there; the root-forms cause galls on the roots 
and great injury ; winged females issue from cracks in the 
soil in fall of second year and go to the stems of vines 
where they lay 2 to 8 eggs; these eggs are of two sizes 
the smaller yielding males and the larger females; the 
true females are small with rudimentary mouthparts 
and each one lays a single true egg. 

Control — In France they use American root-stocks. 

The grape root-worm^ {Fidia viticida) 
Order — Coleoptera 

The most serious pest of the grape in this state; prob- 
ably invaded Chautauqua grape region about 1899; 
it is an American insect and widely distributed over the 
northern half of the eastern United States. 

The adult beetles appear last of June or first of July 
and begin feeding on leaves making characteristic chain - 

iMarlatt— U S. Farmers' Bull. 70. 

Quayle — Calif. Bull. 192. 
2Slingerland— Cornell Bull. 184. 

Hammar— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 89. 

Hartzell — Geneva Bull. 331. 

60 



GRAPE INSECTS 6l 

like holes; about middle of July they begin to deposit 
eggs in masses under the loose bark on the canes and 
ti-unks ; the eggs hatch in about two weeks and the larvae 
drop to the ground where they make their way to the 
roots through cracks and crevices of the soil; they live 
upon the roots and become nearly and sometimes full- 
grown by fall ; in November the \arvse burrow to a depth 
of a foot, form cells in the soil and pass the winter; in 
early May they return to the roots, feed a short time and 
change to pupse along in the middle of June; the partly 
grown larvae may feed longer ; the pupal stage lasts about 
two weeks when the adults appear, thus completing the 
life history; one generation a year. 

Control — Ciiltivation about the roots of the vines 
with a horse-hoe during the first two weeks of June is of 
benefit in destroying the pupae. If beetles are only 
moderately abundant, spray vines within one week after 
beetles first seen with 6 pounds of arsenate of lead in lOO 
gallons Bordeaux; if beetles abundant, use the sweetened 
mixture of six pounds arsenate of lead, lOO gallons water 
and 2 gallons molasses; rains will wash this mixture off 
and it must be repeated to be effective. 

The grape-vine flea-beetle^ {Haltica chalybea) 
Order — Coleoptera 

Another American pest of grapes that in many years 
is very serious; the first pest, usually, to appear in the 
spring on grapes; widely distributed over the eastern 
United States. 

The adult steel-blue beetles appear early and attack 
the swelling buds which they may completely destroy; 
when leaves appear they feed on them; the beetles lay 
their eggs all through May under the bark on the canes, 
under the scales surrounding the buds and occasionally 
on the leaves; eggs hatch latter part of June or early 
Jtily; the larvae then feed on foliage and attain their 
growth in about three weeks; they then drop to the 

'Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 157. 
Hartzell — Geneva Bull. 331. 



62 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

ground and burrow downward several inches where they 
form cells and change to pupas; the pupal stage lasts 
10 days to two weeks; the beetles emerge and feed upon 
the foliage but do little damage; they finally enter 
hibernation along hedgerows, borders of woods, etc., 
where they pass the winter. 

Control — Collect adults in pans with a shallow layer 
of kerosene in bottom ; it is as economical as spraying vines ; 
if no rains, spray vines, when beetles begin to appear, with 
arsenate of lead, 6 pounds water, lOO gallons and molasses, 
2 gallons ; later spray vines with arsenate of lead 3 pounds 
in 50 gallons of water or Bordeaux mixture. 

The ROSE-CHAFERi {Macrodactyliis suhspinosus) 
Order — Coleoptera 

This is an American insect and is injurious to grapes, 
cherries, apples, raspberries, roses and other plants; a 
very serious pest on grapes but is liable to occur locally; 
the adult beetles feed on the blossoms and when these are 
gone, on the leaves and berries. 

The adult beetles appear during the latter half of June, 
mate, and deposit their eggs the last of June and through 
July; the eggs are deposited in sandy soil where they hatch 
and the white grubs feed on the roots of grasses ; the grubs 
become full-grown by November and burrow down 
about one foot where they pass the winter; early in the 
spring they crawl back nearer the surface, feed for a time 
and change to pupae during the latter part of May; in 
about three weeks the beetles appear. So far as observed 
these insects prefer sandy soil for breeding and develop 
largely in grass lands especially long-standing meadows. 

Control — Harrow the soil in which larvse are present 
making three harrowings from the last week in May to 
the middle of June; spray vines with arsenate of lead, 
8 pounds to 100 gallons with two gallon of molasses added ; 
apply as soon as beetles first appear on the vines; it is 
said that a mixture of whale oil soap, 20 pounds, water, 

iRartzell — Geneva Bull. 331. 



GRAPE INSECTS 63 

100 gallons, and crude carbolic acid, i pint, will kill the 
beetles when hit and that this mixture will not injure 
apple and cherry foliage. 

The grape leaf-hoppers {Typhlocyba comes) 
Order— Hemiptera 

This leaf-hopper is often erroneously called "thrips"; 
it is an American insect and appears to be found wherever 
the grape grows ; it is becoming of more importance but 
fluctuates in abundance and injuriousness ; vines injured 
by the hoppers for several years have a stunted growth 
and bear few grapes. 

. The adults appear before the leaves have unfolded and 
feed until the middle of June when they begin to deposit 
their eggs within the tissues of the leaves; the eggs hatch 
during the first two weeks of July and the nymphs pass 
through five stages and many become adults by August 
1st; they remain on vines until the autumn when they 
leave to find hibernating places; grassy ditch-banks, 
fence corners, hedgerows, and similar situations furnish 
hibernating opportunities; there is one full brood, a 
partial, and sometimes a full second brood; the nymphs 
live mostly on the under sides of the leaves. 

Control — Blackleaf extract, i to lOO to 150 is an 
efficient remedy. *' Black leaf 40," i to 1000 to 1600 is also 
an efficient remedy. These mixtures must be sprayed 
on the under sides of the leaves to be effective. Use a 
large aperture in the nozzle and a pressure of 125 to 
150 pounds. 

The grape-berry moth" {Polychrosis viteana) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

Nearly all wormy grapes in New York are caused by 
the caterpillars of this moth ; the moth is purplish-brown 
with not quite half an inch spread of wings; infested 
berries show a purplish spot on their green surfaces 



^Hartzell — Geneva Bull. 344. 
Johnson— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 97 Pt. L 
Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 215. 
'^Johnson & Hammar — Bull. 116, Part II, U. S. Bu. Ent. 



64 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

and soon crack open at this place; spores of fungi enter 
and cause the berries to rot. 

The insect spends the winter as a pupa in cocoons 
attached to the fallen leaves; moths begin to appear 
about June ist and probably lay their eggs on the stems 
of the blossom clusters; the young caterpillars feed on 
the blossom buds, often slightly webbing them together; 
this spring brood of larvae is hardly noticed by growers 
although they may destroy much setting fruit ; the larvae 
make cocoons on the leaves and the moths appear latter 
part of July; these moths lay eggs on the grape berries 
and these larvae go into the berries and cause the wormy 
grapes; the larvae mature in Sept. and make cocoons 
on the leaves; these fall to the ground where the pupae 
pass the winter. 

Control — Spray just before blossoms open and again 
just after berries are set, making two applications, one 
immediately following the other with arsenate of lead at 
the rate of 6 pounds to lOO gallons of water. 

The grape-blossom midget [Contarinia johnsoni) 
Order — Diptera 

This insect has been injurious in certain vineyards in 
Chautauqua County for several years ; it is most injurious 
to early varieties; the larvae live inside of the blossom 
buds and injure them by feeding upon the pistil; infested 
buds become much swollen and blasted. 

Adults emerge from soil the latter part of May and 
deposit their eggs within the buds by means of a long 
telescopic ovipositor; the larv« attain their growth a 
few days preceding blossoming and then crawl out of the 
bud; they drop to the ground and burrow beneath the 
surface where they form a cocoon and remain until the 
following spring when they change to pupae. 

Control — No efficient method of control known. 



iHartzell — Geneva Bull. 331. 



GRAPE INSECTS 65 

The grape leaf-folder^ {Desmia funeralis) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

In midsuninier and later, many grape leaves may be 
found with the edges rolled or with the upper faces 
folded together; if opened a small active wriggling larva 
will be found between the folds ; the leaf will also be found 
to be skeletonized inside of the folds. 

The insect passes the winter as a pupa in the leaves; 
the moths appear early in the spring and there are at 
least two broods a season; the moth expands about one 
inch and has shining black wings bordered with white 
and with two white spots on each front one and one long 
white spot on each hind one. 

Control — Crush larvas by hand in folded leaves; 
spray with arsenate of lead as for the berry moth and 
others. 

The striped tree-cricket^ {Oecanthus nigricornis) 

Order — Orthoptera 

This species of Oecanthus often lays its eggs in canes of 
the grape causing a characteristic scarring of the canes. 
Its injuries, however, are not serious since the nymphs do 
not feed on the vines. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE 

Grape-leaf skeletonizer {Harrisina americana). 
Eight-spotted forester {Alypia octomaculata) . 
Grape plume-moth (Oxypttlus periscelidactylus). 
Grape-cane borer {Amphiceriis hicaudatus) . 

{Schistocerus haniatus). 
Grape-cane gall-maker {Ampeloglypter sesostris). 
Cottony maple scale {Pulvinaria vitis). 
Grape scale {Aspidiotus uvcb). 
Apricot scale {Eulecanium armeniacum) . 
Grape curculio (Craponius incequalis). 



iQuayle — California Bull. 192. 

^Parrott and Fulton— Geneva (N. Y.) Bull. 388. 



66 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

CURRANT PESTS 

The IMPORTED CURRANT WORM^ {Pteroniis ribesii) 
Order — Hymenoptera. Manual, p. 613 

An imported insect first found in New York about 
Rochester in 1857; it is a saw-fly with a reddish body 
about one-quarter of an inch long and four transparent 
wings. The adults appear soon after the leaves put out 
and lay their eggs along the veins of the undersides of the 
leaves; they hatch in a week or ten days; the larvae 
have 10 pairs of legs and eat voraciously, often defoliating 
the bushes; when full-grown they are three-quarters of 
an inch long and burrow into the ground or hide beneath 
rubbish on the surface and spin cocoons within which 
they change to pupae; in July the adults appear and 
deposit their eggs for a second generation which is often 
more abundant than the first; the larvae of this second 
generation remain in the ground all winter. 

Control — Spray when larvae are first seen with 
arsenate of lead, 3 pounds to 50 gallons of water; when 
berries begin to ripen use fresh white hellebore. 

The currant-stem girdler^ {Janus integer) 
Order — Hymenoptera 

An American insect that is widely distributed in New 
York State; in May, it girdles the new growth of the 
branches and the tips wilt and fall over; the adult insect 
is a saw-fly with a shining black body and transparent 
wings. 

The winter is passed as a larva in burrows inside the 
currant stems; in April it changes to a pupa and in the 
last part of May the adults appear; the female makes a 
hole in the tender branch with her ovipositor and then 
deposits her egg] she then girdles the branch about one 
inch above the egg ; this she does in an interesting way 
with her ovipositor; the end of the stem wilts and falls 
over; the larva burrows down the stem going 6 or 8 



iRiley— Ninth Rept., p. 7. 
^Slingerland — Cornell Btill. 126. 



CURRANT INSECTS 67 

inches by fall ; it then spins a cocoon at the lower end and 
passes the winter. 

Control — ^As soon as the wilted tips of the canes are 
seen in the spring they should be cut off 4 or 5 inches be- 
low the girdled place and burned. This will destroy all of 
the eggs. 

The currant moth-borers {Sesia tipuliformis) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

This is a beautiful clear-winged moth like the peach- 
tree borer; it is another imported pest and is said to be, 
in some localities, a serious one. 

The eggs are laid on the stems in the axils of the leaves ; 
the young larva bores into the stem and gradually tunnels 
out a burrow down the center as it grows ; the larvae be- 
come half grown by fall and pass the winter in their bur- 
rows; in spring they complete their growth and pupate; 
the moths appear in June. Affected stems produce 
small yellowish leaves and are soon broken off by the 
wind. 

Control — Infested stems should be cut off below the 
lowest part of the tunnel and burned. 

The currant aphis^ {Myzus ribis) 
Order — Hemiptera 

The small black eggs of this aphis are found on the 
stalks in winter and hatch just as the foliage appears; 
the aphids mutliply and cause the foliage to curl and 
pucker; the life history through the summer is not well 
known; in late October the winged males and the true 
females appear and eggs are again deposited. 

Control — Spray before leaves are badly curled with 
"black leaf 40," i pint to 100 gallons of water with 4 pounds 
of soap added; spray the undersides of the leaves. 



'Lugger — Minn. Bull. 43, p. 184. 
2Lowe— Geneva (N. Y.) Bull. 139. 



68 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

The FOUR-LINED LEAF-BUG^ {PcBcUocapsus Uneatus) 
Order — Hemiptera 

This is a common bug with many food plants but is 
often very injurious to the young foHage of currant and 
gooseberry; attacked leaves turn brown, curl up and 
become brittle. 

The eggs are deposited in slits cut lengthwise in the 
stems of the plants; they pass the winter in these situa- 
tions and hatch early in the spring; the nymphs have 
shining vermilion red bodies; they molt five times and 
become full-grown in 17 to 20 days; the nymphs feed on 
the tenderest young foliage, causing brownish depressed 
spots to appear on the leaves; the adult bugs appear 
about the middle of June; lay their eggs, are active for 
about a month and then disappear. 

Control — Spray the nymphs with "black-leaf -40," 
three-fourths pint to 100 gallons of water; cut off tips of 
stems containing eggs and burn them. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE CURRANT 

Green currant worm {Gynifiojiychus appendiculatus) . 
Pepper-and-salt currant moth {Lycia cognataria) . 
Yellow currant fruit-fly (Epochra canadensis). 
Dark currant fruit-fly {Rhagoletis rihicola). 
San Jose scale {Aspidiotiis perniciosus). 
Walnut scale {Aspidiotus juglans-regice). 

STRAWBERRY PESTS 

White grubs^ {Lachno sterna sps.) 

Order — Coleoptera 

White grubs are the larvae of May beetles or "J^^e 
bugs"; there are at least eight species of these that are 
injurious; these insects have a prolonged Hfe cycle, 
two to three years and may be longer in some cases; 
white grubs are liable to accumulate in old pastures and 
mxcadows and when these are broken and other crops 



iSlingerland— Cornell Bull. 58. 
^Forbes— Illinois Bull. 116. 



STRAWBERRY INSECTS 69 

put on the sod there is Hable to be much injury ; the grubs 
eat off roots of strawberry plants. 

The eggs are laid in balls of earth in the ground where 
they hatch and the grubs live there until the summer of 
the second year when they change to pupae in the soil; 
the pupae change to beetles in late summer but the 
beetles remain in their earthern cells until the following 
spring. 

Control- — Do not follow sod land with strawberries; 
put some other crop between. 

The strawberry weevil^ {Anthonomus signatus) 
Order — Coleoptera 

This is a small beetle about one-tenth of an inch long 
with a rather long proboscis ; it is usually more injurious 
farther south and in the southeastern part of New York 
State. 

The weevils emerge from their winter quarters early and 
the females deposit their eggs within the buds of straw- 
berries; the beetle then cuts off the flower-stem and the 
bud soon falls to the ground ; the grub lives inside of the 
bud on the pollen and changes to a pupa from which the 
beetle emerges later; evidently but one brood a year. 

Control — ^If possible plant mostly pistillate varieties 
with just enough staminate varieties to cross-fertilize 
them; plant early-blooming staminate varieties as trap 
crops ; cover beds with muslin ; place beds in open fields 
away from fences, hedgerows, etc. ; practice clean culture. 

The strawberry leaf-roller {Ancylis comptana) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

Moths appear in early May in New Jersey; lay pale 
green eggs mostly on the undersides of leaves ; these hatch 
in about one week ; the young larva feeds a day or two on 
upper side of the leaf but soon folds the halves of the leaf 
together, tying it securely with silk and lives within fully 
protected from insecticides ; becomes full-grown in about 



^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 21. 



70 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

one month and is then about yi inch long, yellowish to 
greenish-brown and head shining brown; transforms to 
pupa in folded leaf; in New Jersey 3 broods a year but 
first brood causes most injury. 

Control — Make a thorough application of arsenate of 
lead, 5 pounds to 100 gallons of water, within a week after 
the first moths appear and before leaves are folded ; bum 
over fields after crop is harvested ; plow up old abandoned 
beds. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE STRAWBERRY 

Strawberry root-worm {Typophorus canellus). 
Strawberry root-louse {Aphis forbesi). 
Strawberry crown-moth (Sesia rutilans). 
Green strawberry slug {Empria ignota). 
Obsolete banded strawberry leaf -roller {Archips obsole- 
tana) . 

Strawberry crown-girdler {Otiorhynchus ovatus). 
Strawberry crown-borer {Tylodcrma fragarim). 

RASPBERRY AND BLACKBERRY PESTS 

The raspberry cane-borer^ {Oberea bimaculata) 
Order — Coleoptera 

The adult beetle is about one-half an inch in length with 
a slender cylindrical body and long antennae; the pro- 
thorax is yellow, generally with two or three black spots. 

The beetles appear in June and deposit their eggs in the 
tender growth of the canes; the female then cuts two 
rings around the cane, one above and one below the egg\ 
this causes the tips of the canes to wilt and fall over; the 
egg hatches and the young larva begins to bore downward 
in the center of the stem;" it passes the first winter in 
its burrow not far from the egg and by the second fall 
reaches the root where it passes the winter, changes to 
a pupa in the spring and the beetle emerges in June; it 
has been said, however, that it takes but one year for 
the life history. 



iComstock and Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 23. 



RASPBERRY INSECTS 71 

Control — Cut off the wilted tips of the canes some 
distance below the egg as they appear in June. 

The raspberry saw-fly^ {Monophadnus ruhi) 
Order — Hymenoptera 

A saw-fly, the larvae of which are at times quite in- 
jurious to raspberries; it may feed also upon the black- 
berry and dewberry; the leaves are completely devoured, 
the new canes may be injured and the buds and young 
fruit sometimes suffer. 

The adults appear the first half of May and deposit 
their eggs within the tissues of the leaves from the under- 
sides; in a week to ten days they hatch; the full-grown 
larva is green in color with the body covered with spine- 
bearing tubercles; after feeding on leaves until nothing 
but veins are left the larvae go into the ground two or 
three inches below the surface and make a cocoon in 
which they spend the winter, changing to pupae in the 
spring; there is only one brood annually. 

Control — The larvae may be brushed from the plants 
to the ground where they will die; the plants may be 
sprayed with arsenate of lead, 2 pounds to 50 gallons of 
water as soon as the larvae are seen. 

The striped tree-cricket^ {Oecanthus nigricornis) 
Order — Orthoptera 

This insect lays its eggs in the canes in the fall where 
they remain all winter; the eggs are laid in rows and 
cause long jagged wounds in the canes; the nymphs and 
adults live largely on plant-lice and other insects and must 
be regarded as beneficial ; the wounds made by depositing 
the eggs injure the canes. 

Control — If abundant, affected canes should be cut 
out in the fall and winter. 



'Lowe — Geneva Bull. 150. 

2Parrott & Fulton— Geneva (N. Y.) Bull. 388. 



72 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

The RED-NECKED CANE-BORER^ {Agrilus ruficolUs) 
Order — -Coleoptera 

The stems of raspberries sometimes bear irregular 
swellings or galls two or m.ore inches in length and gradu- 
ally tapering toward either end; caused by a beetle 
about one-third inch in length with reddish "neck" or 
thorax and black head ; deposits egg in June in bark near 
base of a leaf on new growth ; young larva bores upward 
in sapwood passing around stem in a spiral manner thus 
girdling cane; it is a fiat yellowish -white grub about ^ 
inch in length; completes growth in spring and changes 
to pupa in cell in pith. 

Control — Cut and burn infested canes during fall and 
winter; destroy wild berry bushes in which the beetles 
may breed. 

The raspberry cane-maggot- (Phorbia rubivora) 
Order — Diptera 

This is a small fly that attacks the new shoots of the 
raspberry in the spring; the attacked shoots wilt and 
droop; the tip shrinks, turns dark blue and dies. 

As soon as the new shoots appear in the spring the fly 
deposits its eggs in the axils of the tip leaves; the white 
maggot burrows to the pith of the stem and then begins 
to tunnel its way downward inside of the stem; after 
working downward a few inches it girdles the young shoot 
jvist beneath the bark which causes the tip to wilt; the 
maggot then tunnels farther downward until it reaches the 
surface of the ground; here it finally changes to a pupa 
in June and July ; the pupa remains there until the follow- 
ing spring when the fly emerges; one brood a year. 

Control — As soon as the drooping canes are seen in the 
spring they should be cut off several inches below the 
girdle and burned. 



iSmith— N. J. State Rpt. (i2th), p. 373. 
^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 126. 



RASPBERRY INSECTS 73 

The raspberry root-borers (Bembecia marginata) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

The adult moths are clear-winged and closely related 
to the peach-tree borer; the borer or larva is yellowish- 
white and I to i>^ inches long; they attack the stems 
and roots of raspberries and blackberries, causing the 
plants to die. 

The moths appear in August and September and lay 
their brownish-red eggs on the lower side of the leaves; 
the larvae crawl down the stems and burrow beneath 
the bark ; they may hibernate at once or if early they will 
feed and grow some before winter ; the next srmimer they 
bore into the stems and roots sometimes girdling the stem 
at the crown and attacking new shoots; during the 
next summer the larvae become full-grown and pupate, 
the moths appearing in August and September. 

Control — The only way of controlling this pest is to 
pull up infested plants and burn them. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE RASPBERRY 

Raspberry horntail {Hartigia ahdominalis). 
Rose scale {Aulacaspis yosce). 
American raspberry beetle {Bytiirus unicolor). 
Blackberry leaf -miner {Metallus ruhi). 
Red spider {Tetranychus telarius). 



iSmith— N. J. Bull. N, p. 9. 
Lawrence — Washington Bull. 63. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETABLES 

WHITE POTATO 

The COLORADO potato beetle ^ {Leptinotarsa lo-lineata) 

Order — Coleoptera. Manual, p. 576 

First found on a wild plant (Solanum) of the potato 
family in Colorado in 1824; gradually spread eastward 
to Nebraska 1859, crossing the Mississippi River in 1864 
and reaching New York 1872; moved at rate of 88 miles 
annually and reached the Atlantic in 1874; in 1877 it 
reached England but was exterminated. 

The beetles winter over, usually deep in the ground, 
occasionally under rubbish; female lays her orange-red 
eggs in patches on the undersides ■ of the leaves; she is 
capable of laying 500 to 1000; these hatch in 5 to 7 days; 
the grubs eat ravenously and mature in 2 or 3 weeks 
and then enter ground where they form cells and pupate; 
the pupal stage lasts 10 days to two weeks; there are two 
generations here, the adults of the second generation 
hibernating. The work of this beetle seems to affect 
quality of tubers. 

Control — Spray with paris green, i pound in 50 gal- 
lons of Bordeaux mixture or arsenite of zinc, 1)4 pounds 
to 50 gallons. 

*The potato flea-beetle^ {Epitrix cucumeris) 
Order — Coleoptera 

The potato flea-beetle is a small beetle with enlarged 
muscular femora on the hind legs with which it jiunps 
like fleas, hence the name. 

The beetles hibernate in hedgerows, along fences, etc. 
and appear early in the spring; they bite holes in the 
epidermis of leaves and eat out green tissue ; later in the 
season they cause much injury by their persistent feed- 
ing; the eggs are deposited on and in the soil around 



iChittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 87. 
'Johannsen — Maine Bull. 211. 

74 



POTATO INSECTS 75 

the base of the plant and the small larvse feed on the 
underground stems and tubers; they bore straight into 
the tubers and cause "slivers" in the potatoes; pimple- 
like spots often occur over the outside of the potato 
where these larvae are situated and cause "pimply" 
potatoes. 

Control — Thorough spraying with Bordeaux mixture 
to keep the plants covered is the only satisfactory method 
of control. Arsenate of lead may be added or paris 
green for the Colorado potato beetle. 

Blister- BEETLE 1 {Epicauta cinerea) 
Order — Coleoptera. Manual, p. 586. 

This species is known as the "old-fashioned potato- 
bug"; it is a large, slender, beetle with soft, flexible 
elytra; these beetles pass through complicated changes 
in their life history ; the eggs are laid on the earth and the 
young grubs feed upon the eggs of grasshoppers; the 
beetles often appear in great swarms over limited areas 
and are hard to control and quite destructive. 

CoNTROL^ — Hand-pick into pans of kerosene, spray 
with strong poison mixture, 3 pounds of arsenate of lead 
to 50 gallons of water. 

The potato stalk-borer {Trichobaris trinotata) 

Order — Coleoptera 

This pest of the potato is more injurious in the West 
apparently than here although it is often injurious in 
New Jersey and may become so in New York at any time. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE POTATO 

Egg plant flea-beetle {Epitrix Juscula) . 
Tobacco flea-beetle {Epitrix parvula). 
Potato tuber worm {PhthorimcEa operculella). 
Potato-scab gnat {Epidapus scabiei). 



^Gibson — 42nd Ann. Rpt. Ent. Soc. Ont. 



76 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

SWEET POTATO 

The SWEET potato flea-beetle (Chcetocnema confinis) 
Order — Coleoptera 

A small bronze or brassy-brown shining beetle about one- 
sixteenth inch in length ; hibernates over winter in rubbish 
appearing early in May in N. J. ; egg unknown but larvae 
have been found on roots of bindweed and probably occur 
on roots of sweet potato; adult beetles injure potato vines 
by eating the leaves. 

Control — Dip leaves and stems of plants before setting 
in solution of arsenate of lead, i pound in lo gallons of 
water; delay setting of plants as long as possible. 

The two-striped sweet potato beetle (Cassida 

hivittata) 
Order — Coleoptera 

Most abundant and injurious of all the "Gold-bugs"; 
less than % inch in length and of a dull brownish-yellow 
color with a faint golden lustre; there are two black 
stripes on wing- covers ; the eggs laid singly on under sides 
of leaves and each covered with a little black excrement; 
larva is dirty white and bears spines along sides of body ; 
two long spines, the anal fork, at end of abdomen; these 
carry the cast skins over the back ; pupa brown and retains 
the larval skins. 

Control — Dip plants as for flea-beetle and, in addition, 
spray in the field. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO SWEET POTATOES 

Golden tortoise beetle {Coptocycla hicolor). 
Black-legged tortoise beetle {Cassida nigripes). 
Sweet potato plume-moth {Pterophorus monodactylus) . 
Cutworms (Several species). 



CABBAGE INSECTS 77 

CABBAGE PESTS 

The cabbage root-maggot^ {Pego^nya hrassicce) 
Order — Diptera 

This pest is a small fly imported from Europe ; it attacks 
cabbage, radishes, cauliflower, and other cruciferous 
plants; it also attacks cabbage plants in seed beds and 
causes much injury. 

The flies appear early in the spring and deposit their 
eggs in crevices in the soil close to the stem of the plant ; 
they hatch in a week or ten days and the young maggots 
immediately burrow along the surfaces of the young 
roots and later into the main roots; the maggots com- 
plete their growth in 3 to 4 weeks and pupate in the soil ; 
they pass the winter as pupse; probably three broods a 
season at leavSt. 

Control — For seed plants in beds, screen the beds with 
muslin; for plants in the field, destroy all cabbage, radish, 
and turnip stumps, leaves and refuse; plow in fall to 
destroy puparia; use tarred papers on plants in field; 
use carbolic acid solution for radishes and plants in 
garden ; hellebore, i ounce to 2 gallons of water seems to 
control the fly on radishes. 

Cutworms on cabbages^ (Various species) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

There are many kinds of cutworms all larvae of noctuid 
moths; these larvae attack various kinds of plants and 
cause a great amount of injury; they remain "in the 
ground mostly during the day, work mostly at night, 
and attack the best plants. 

The parent moths of the yellow-headed cutworm appear 
from late June through July and August; they deposit 
their eggs at the bases of grass stems where they hatch 
and the cutworms live on the roots of the grasses, attain- 
ing half their growth by fall; they then go downward 



iSlingerland— Cornell Bull. 78. 
Schoene — Geneva Bulls. 301 and 334. 
^Herrick — Rural New Yorker, 1912, p. 618. 



78 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

4 or 5 inches and make cells in which they pass the winter ; 
in the spring they return to the surface, eat voraciously 
and complete their growth, pupating in the soil and 
changing to adults in Jiily and August. 

Control — Do not follow sod with crops the cutworms 
attack; plow land in August and allow it to lie fallow 
until the following spring; use poison baits of bran, 
arsenic, paris green, and molasses; hand-pick, etc. 

The IMPORTED CAB B AGE- WORM 1 {Pofitia vapcB) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

This is the common white cabbage butterfly present 
all over the United States ; it was imported from Europe 
and first appeared in Canada about 1856 or '57 and in 
New York about 1870; it feeds on nearly every crucifer- 
ous plant. 

The butterflies appear in early spring and lay their 
eggs on the cabbage leaves; the eggs hatch in 4 to 8 
days and the green velvety larv£e complete their growth 
in ten days to two weeks and change to chrysalids; 
this stage occupies one to two weeks in summer; the 
pupae of the last brood in the fall remain over winter as 
such; there are three or four broods here. The insect 
has many parasites and diseases that aid in holding it in 
check. 

Control — Spray the plants with a poison mixture 
before heading is far advanced; in Hawaii 2 pounds 
paris green, 8 pounds whale-oil soap and 100 gallons of 
water have given good results; when plants are well 
headed one may use hellebore. 

The cabbage aphis^ {Aphis brassicce) ■ 

Order — Hemiptera 

This is a plant-louse imported from Europe. It is 
covered with a whitish powdery secretion; it injures 
cabbages, cauliflower, turnips, etc. 



^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 60. 
^Herrick and Hungate — Cornell Bull. 300. 



CABBAGE INSECTS 79 

In autumn the true males and females appear and the 
latter deposit their dark brown eggs in great numbers 
on the cabbage leaves; in the early spring these hatch 
into the stem-mothers that live on the tender sprouts 
from the cabbage stumps; there is generation after 
generation of the winged and wingless aphids during 
the season until the true sexes are produced again in the 
fall; this aphis has many parasitic and predaceous 
enemies. 

Control — Destroy cabbage stumps and all refuse 
in the fall; spray plants with whale-oil soap or "black 
leaf 40," three-fourths of a pint to 100 gallons of water 
with 4 pounds of soap added. 

The cabbage looper (Autographa hrassicce) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

A very injurious species on Long Island ; it lacks some 
of the abdominal legs and therefore loops like a Geometrid ; 
the white ribbed egg is deposited on the leaves ; the larva 
at first is dark green with longitudinal white lines on sides 
of body ; later it becomes pale green and lines disappear ; 
the pupa is in a thin white cocoon in fold of leaf on under- 
side; apparently 3-brooded on Long Island; often 
injurious in greenhouses. 

Control — Same treatment as for other cabbage cater- 
pillars but the looper is harder to hold in check 

The harlequin cabbage bug {Murgantia histrionica) 
Order — Hemiptera 

A very destructive Southern cabbage pest which has 
gained a foothold on Long Island and is working north- 
ward in Ohio; lately been found near Elmira, N. Y. ; 
lays its barrel-shaped eggs on leaves ; several generations 
in a season. 

Control — Practice clean cultivation ; plant early crop 
of mustard or radish as a trap crop and destroy the old 
bugs as they gather on this in the spring by spraying with 
pure kerosene and then by burning. 



80 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CABBAGE 

Imported cabbage web-worm {Hellula undalis). 
Diamond-back mioth {Plutella maculipennis) . 
Cross-striped cabbage worm (EvergesHs rimosalis). 
Southern cabbage butterfly {Pontia protodice). 
Flea-beetles (Various species). 

ASPARAGUS PESTS 

The asparagus beetle^ {Crioceris asparagi) 
Order — Coleoptera 

For two hundred years asparagus had no pests; now 
there are two beetles that work on it both being im- 
ported from Europe; the one here was first found in 
Queens County, New York, in 1862, but had probably 
been introduced about 1856. 

The beetles hibernate under rubbish and appear in 
May; they lay their eggs on the stems of the asparagus 
where they hatch into soft grubs; these eat the plants 
and in ten days to two weeks attain their growth and 
go into the ground to pupate; in 5 to 8 days the adult 
beetles appear, the whole life cycle occupying 3 to 7 
weeks; 2 or 3 broods a season here. 

Control — Hand-pick in small beds; cut down and 
destroy all volunteer plants in spring to force beetles to 
lay eggs on new shoots which are cut often ; poison plants 
after cutting with arsenate of lead 2 pounds, and soap 
4 pounds, to 50 gallons of water; clean up rubbish. 

The 12-SPOTTED asparagus beetle^ {Crioceris duo- 

decimpunctata) 

Order— rColeoptera 

This was not found until 1881 and then near Balti- 
more; it is a rarer and less injurious species than the 
former one but lives exclusively on asparagus. 

The life-history is not so well-known ; the eggs are laid 
on old plants and the larvae burrow into the berries but 



iChittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 102. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 66, Part i. 



ASPARAGUS INSECTS 8i 

pupata in the ground ; the adult beetles damage the new 
shoots in the spring. 

Control — Same as for former species. 

The asparagus miners {Agromyza simplex) 
Order — Diptera 

The stalks of asparagus are often injured by the larva 
of a fly that mines beneath the epidermis ; the mines are 
often so abundant that they have the effect of girdling 
the stalk. 

The white eggs are stuck in the sides of the stalk just 
beneath the epidermis; they hatch into the small mag- 
gots that mine up and down beneath the epidermis, 
when the larvae attain their growth they change to 
puparia; the puparia are attached to the stalk near the 
ground in slits in the epidermis; probably two gener- 
ations. 

Control^ — Pull up infested stalks in spring and burn 
them; allow volunteer plants to grow as a trap crop 
which should be destroyed in late June. 

CUCUMBER PESTS 

The striped cucumber beetle^ {Diabrotica vittata) 
Order — Coleoptera 

As soon as squashes, cucumbers, etc., appear above 
the ground in the spring they are attacked by a small 
yellow and black striped beetle ; this beetle is distributed 
all over the United States east of the Rockies ; it is native 
to this country. 

The beetles feed upon the leaves and blossoms and 
deposit their lemon-yellow eggs in crevices of the soil 
near stem of plant; the long, slender, whitish larvae 
attack the stems by burrowing into them. The larvae 
pupate in ground and the beetles hibernate over winter 
in sheltered places; there are two generations a season. 



iPink— CorneU Bull. 331. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 31. 



82 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Control — Put in excess of seeds; protect plants with 
boxes or wire screen; hand-pick beetles in garden; 
dust plants with tobacco dust, ashes, lime, etc.; spray 
with Bordeaux mixture and arsenate of lead or arsenate of 
lead alone; keep plants covered with this material; 
practice clean culture. 

The squash bug^ {Anasa tristis) 
Order — Hemiptera 

This is a large blackish -brown bug about three-quarters 
of an inch long that attacks cucurbits of all kinds ; when 
it punctures a leaf to extract the juices it also injects a 
drop of liquid which has a poisonous effect on the leaf; 
moreover, it carries bacteria of the wilt disease from one 
plant to another. 

The adult bugs appear in early spring and attack the 
plants; they lay their dark-brown eggs on the under- 
sides of the leaves in great numbers; these hatch in 
8 to 13 days; the nymphs are green and black and 
abundant ; they molt five times and complete their growth 
in about one month; the adult bugs hibernate under 
trash, etc. 

Control — Trap old bugs in spring with chips or leaves 
placed under plants; hand-pick adults and eggs; kero- 
sene emulsion diluted with 7 to 9 parts water will kill 
nymphs but not adults. 

SQUASH AND MELON PESTS 

The squash bug — Already discussed under cucumber 

pests 

The squash-vine borer- {Melittia satyriniformis) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

The parent moth is a beautiful clear- winged moth with 
a wing expanse of an inch to an inch and a half; it is 
distributed all over the eastern United States ; it attacks 



•Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ, 39. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 38. 



MELON INSECTS 83 

squash, pumpkin, and occasionally melons, cucumbers, 
and gourds. 

The moths appear in July and deposit their eggs on 
all parts of the plant, but chiefly along the stems; these 
hatch and the larva bores into the stem and then burrows 
along in the center of the stem causing it to rot and 
become severed from the vine; an affected stem wilts 
and dies; the larva attains a length of an inch and be- 
comes full-grown in about four weeks; it leaves the stem 
and goes into the soil to pupate, the pupag remaining 
over until the following spring; one brood here. 

Control — Insecticides or repellants of little or no 
-avail; cut out the borers; plant the early varieties as a 
trap crop, or plant late varieties as late as possible; 
fertilize the soil well, and cover the plants at several joints 
where new roots can be formed; remove and bum vines 
as soon as crop has been secured to destroy eggs and 
larvae; harrow soil in fall and plow deep in early spring 
to kill pupae. 

The melon plant-louse {Aphis gossypii) 
Passes winter in egg stage; breeds throughout summer 

like other aphids; is more injurious farther South. 
Control — Fumigation with "Nico- Fume -Tobacco" 

paper and "Aphis Punk" paper; carbon bisulphide. 

OTHER INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CUCUMBERS AND 

MELONS 

Twelve-spotted cucumber beetle {Diabrotica 12-punc- 
tata). 

Squash ladybird {Epilachna borealis). 
Pickle worm {Diaphania nitidalis). 
Melon caterpillar {Diaphania hyalinata) . 

ONION PESTS 

The onion maggot^ {Pegomya cepetoriim) 
Order — Diptera 
Closely resembles cabbage maggot; deposits its eggs 
in crevices of soil near or on onion plant; injuries onion 



iChittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 63. 



84 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

by mining in it ; changes to puparia in soil ; later broods 
more injurious on onion in September and October, 
when they bore into onions and these decay, causing the 
plant to droop, wilt and die. 

Control — Scallions should be planted late in Septem- 
ber or early October; sometimes of advantage to make 
a small early planting in August as a trap crop; sow 
late, that is, in latter part of April or early May and force 
crops; rotate and get away from old infested fields; 
practice clean culture; use carbolic acid emulsion on 
onions in garden ; use sweetened poison bait. 

The ONION thrips^ {Thrips t abaci) 
Order — Thysanoptera 

This is a very small insect that causes a good deal of 
annual injury to onions in the United States; is widely 
distributed all over the country and hard to control. 

It passes the winter as adults and probably also as 
nymphs; the eggs are laid in tissues of the leaves just 
under the epidermis; they hatch in 3 to 4 days; larval 
stage 7 to 9 das. ; nymph stage 4 das. ; whole life cycle 
16 das.; many overlapping broods; the adults and the 
young ones scarify leaves of onions, eating oft' epidermis; 
leaves turn white, wilt and die; very injurious at times. 

CoNTROL^ — Clean culture in fields and around the 
borders of fields; spray with the tobacco extracts "black 
leaf 40," ^ pint to 100 gallons of water and 4 or 5 pounds 
of soap, preferably whale-oil soap; spray thoroughly 
and repeat two or three times 4 or 5 days apart; com- 
mence just as soon as thrips are seen. 

OTHER INSECTS mJURIOUS TO ONIONS 

Black onion fly {Tritoxa flexa) . 
Cutworms (several species). 



'Quaintance — Florida Bull. 46. 



TOMATO INSECTS 85 

TOMATO PESTS 

Cutworms (several species) 

Cutworms sometimes cut off the young plants when 
first set and destroy much more than they eat, A spoon- 
ful of the poison bait near each plant when first put out 
will aid in controlling these pests. 

Flea beetles 

The potato flea beetle often attacks tomatoes but may 
be repelled by thorough and frequent applications 
of Bordeaux mixture. It should be sprayed on the under- 
■ sides of the leaves as much as possible. 

The tomato worm^ {Phlegethontius quinquemacidata) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

The tomato worm is a large green caterpillar about 
3^ inches long; the moths are large; they appear from 
May to June and deposit eggs singly; the caterpillars 
complete growth and go into the ground where they 
pupate; two generations in southeastern New York; 
last generation passes winter in ground. 

Control — Hand pick the larvae. 

The tomato fruit- worm- {Heliothis ohsoleta) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

This is the same as the corn ear-worm and boll worm 
of cotton. It is more abundant farther south. The 
larva eats into the tomatoes and often destroys large 
numbers of them. 

Control — Plow land in fall or winter. Dust infested 
plants especially the fruit with powdered arsenate of 
lead. 



'Chittenden — Insects Injurious to Vegetables, p. 229. 
-Quaintance— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 50. 



86 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

BEET AND SPINACH PESTS 

Beet leaf-miner^ (Pegomya vicina) 
Order — Diptera 

A small fly places her eggs on lower sides of leaves; 
young larvae mine in leaves; transform to pupae in soil: 
life cycle about four weeks; several generations during 
season. 

Control — In gardens pick off and burn infested 
leaves; plow deep and harrow thoroughly as soon as 
crop is removed; with beets, use spinach as trap crop. 

Spinach flea beetle^ {Disonycha xanthomelcena) 
Order — Coleoptera 

A shining black flea beetle with red prothorax about 
X inch long greatly injures sugar beets; beetles hiber- 
nate over winter; lay eggs at bases of plants; larvae 
feed on underside of leaves and later together with adults 
eat holes in leaves; two generations at Washington, 
D. C. 

Control — Dust plants or spray them with arsenate of 
lead; use Bordeaux mixture alone or with poison. 

Other insects injurious to beets and spinach 

Beet aphis {Pemphigus hetce). 

Sugar-beet web worm {Loxostege sticticalis). 

Beet army -worm {Laphygma exigua). 

Flea beetles (several sps.). 

Beet leafhopper (Eutettix tenella). 

Blister beetles (several sps.). 

BEAN AND PEA PESTS 

Pea weevil^ {Bruchus pisoriim) 
Order — Coleoptera 

Seed peas often found with a hole in each due to the 
pea weevil; the weevil is about 1-5 of an inch in length 

iSirrine— N. Y. Agr. Expt. Sta. (Geneva), 14th Rept. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 19. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Yearbook, 1898. 



BEAN AND PEA INSECTS 87 

and marked with brown and white spots; passes winter 
as an adult and lays eggs singly in spring on pods in field ; 
on hatching larva bores through pod and into the pea; 
one generation a year. 

Control — Hold peas over one season; plant late; 
fumigate seed with Cs2. 

Bean weevil' {Bruchus ohtectiis) 
Order — Coleoptera 

Adult beetle is about i-8 inch in length, with mot- 
tled wing covers ; eggs laid upon or inserted in the bean- 
.pod through holes made by female; life cycle from 21 to 
80 days; probably 5 or 6 generations annually; it also 
breeds in stored beans. 

Control — No method of preventing injury in field; 
fiimigate stored beans and plant clean seed. 

The BEAN LEAF-BEETLE^ {Cevotoma trifurcata) 
Order — Coleoptera 

A small reddish black-marked beetle about 1-5 inch 
long; adults hibernate and lay eggs in cracks of soil 
near stem of plant; larvas feed on roots and stems but 
adults eat holes in leaves; life cycle about 8 or 9 weeks; 
in South 2 or 3 generations, one in the North. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead. 

The pea aphis^ (Macrosiphum pisi) 

Order — Hemiptera 

Exceedingly injurious to peas some years in New 
York; life cycle similar to other aphids; passes winter 
on clover and vetches ; flies to peas in spring when these 
are available; several generations during season; goes 
back to clover in late season and lays true eggs that pass 
winter. 



iChittenden— U. S. Yearbook, 1898. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 23. 
■'Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 43. 



88 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Control — Do not plant peas near clover; no good 
remedy on peas sown broadcast; plant peas in rows and 
brush lice off and bury in soil by cultivation. 

Other insects injurious to peas 

Cow-pea weevil {Bruchus cJmiensis). 

Four-spotted bean-weevil {Bruchus quadrimaculahcs). 

Bean ladybird (Epilachna varivestis). 

Blister beetles (several sps.). 

Bean aphis {Aphis rumicis). 

Seed-corn maggot {Phorhia fiisciceps). 

Pea-moth {Semasia nigricana). 

CELERY PESTS 

The celery caterpillar^ {Papilio polyxenes) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

This caterpillar is green or yellowish and ringed with 
black and spotted with yellow; it becomes 2 inches 
long ; when full-grown it changes to a chrysalis and later 
the parent insect, a large swallow-tail butterfly, appears. 

The celery looper^ {AtUographa simplex) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

Where it occurs this insect is considered very destruc- 
tive to celery; the larva is a looper and measures nearly 
2 inches in length ; the moth is pvirplish to velvety brown 
and has a conspicuous silvery comma-like mark on each 
wing. 

Control — Hand picking and poisoning with arsenate 
of lead. 

The Carrot rust-fly'* {Psilarosce) 

Order^ — Diptera 

This insect sometimes attacks celery~and causes the 
leaves to turn reddish and the roots to become" blotched 



^Davis — Mich. Bull. 102. 
^Chittenden— U. S. Bui. Ent., Bull. 33. 
^^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 33. 



CELERY INSECTS ■ 89 

with rusty patches. The maggots also tunnel through 
roots of carrots. The parent insect is a small fly only 
about 1-6 of an inch in length. 

Control — Late sowing and rotation of crops; celery 
should not follow carrots; clean cultivation and destruc- 
tion of all remnants and refuse after crop is harvested. 

Other insects injurious to celery 

Celery leaf-tyer {PhlyctcBnia ferrugalis) . 
Wire worms (several species) . 
Tarnished plant-bug {Lygus pratensis). 

Carrot and parsnip pests 

Celery caterpillar {Papilio^olyxenes) . 
Parsnip leaf -miner {Acidia fratria). 
Carrot beetle {Ligyrus gihhosus). 
Parsnip webworm {Depressaria heracliana) . 
Cari'ot rust-fly {Psila rosce). 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO HOPS 

Hop-plant borers {Gortyna inimanis) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

This is a native insect that is often seriously injurious 
to hop vines in New York. The larvae gnaw the vines 
below ground eventually killing them. It is distributed 
from Canada to Washington, D. C, on the south and as 
far west as Wisconsin, at least. There seems to be some 
doubt about its occurrence in the hop regions of the 
Pacific Coast. 

The egg is said to be deposited on the tips of the hop 
vines when they begin to ylimb; the larva bores im- 
mediately into the vine just below the tip ; affected vines 
stop growing, the head turns downward and no longer 
twines about the pole; such vines are called "muffle 
heads" or "stag vines"; when the larva is about half an 
inch long it leaves the tip, drops to the ground and 
begins to gnaw the stems; the larva becomes 2 inches 
long, changes to a pupa from the middle to the last of 
July; the moths appear the latter part of August and in 
September; some of them winter over probably; also 
some of the pupae are said to winter over. 

Control — The young larvce in the tips should be 
killed by pinching when hops are being tied; the larvae 
in the ground should be dug out by hand. 

The hop-plant louse^ (Phorodon humuli) 
Order — Hemiptera 

This insect is widely distributed here and in Europe 
wherever the hop grows. It is often exceedingly destruc- 
tive. 

The eggs are laid in the fall on different varieties of 
plums and also it is said on the hop vines themselves. 
Here they remain and hatch in the spring. The winged 
forms of the third generation go from the plums to the 

1 ^Howard— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 7. 

90 



HOP INSECTS 91 

hops where they Hve until fall. They multiply rapidly 
and sometimes cover the leaves and stunt the vines. 
At picking time a winged generation flies back to the 
plums and gives birth to the true females which lay the 
eggs. In case no plums are present it seems that the 
eggs may be laid on the hop vines at or below the ground. 
Control — Spray with "black leaf 40," ^ pint to 100 
gallons of water with 8 pounds of whale-oil soap. 

Hop- VINE SNOUT-MOTH' (Ilypejui humidi) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

The larvae of this moth are sometimes exceedingly 
destructive to the vines which they soon defoliate when 
abundant. It seems to have no other food plant than 
the hop and follows this plant in its distribution. 

The larvae are semi-loopers for they lack the first 
pair of prolegs ; the pale green eggs are laid on the under- 
sides of the leaves; the larv^ eat the leaves voraciously; 
the larvae are said to pupate in the ground, in crevices 
in the poles and in leaves; there are two generations a 
year, the last brood of moths hibernating in protected 
places; there is much conflicting testimony about it 
and little is certainly known. 

Control — Spray vines with arsenate of lead, 2)4 
pounds to 50 gallons, or dust vines with powdered ar- 
senate of lead, 4 pounds to the acre. It can be mixed 
with sulphur which is used for the mildew. 

Hop merchants- {Polygonia interrogatioiHs) 

(Polygonia comma) 

Order — Lepi doptera 

The so-called hop merchants are simply the shining 
chrysalids of these two butterflies. The caterpillars of 
each are covered with branching spines and live upon 
the foliage of the plants. Both butterflies have two 
generations but the first generation of each is spent upon 

1 ^Howard— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 7. 



92 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

food plants other than the hop. The second generation 
of each is spent on the hop, the butterflies hibernating 
through the winter. Both butterflies show a dimorphism, 
the fall or winter forms diftering from the summer forms. 
Control — Use the powdered arsenate of lead, as for 
the snout-moth. 

Other insects injurious to hops 

Red Spider (Tetranychus telarius). 
Hop flea beetle {Psylliodes punctulata). 
Hop red bug (Paracalocoris scrupeus). 
Tufted looper {Ania limboda). 
Leaf hoppers {Typhlocyba sps.). 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FORAGE CROPS 
WHEAT PESTS 

The HESSIAN fly^ (Mayetiola destructor) 

Order — Diptera 

Probably the most injurious pest on wheat in the 
United. States; imported from Europe and first noticed 
on Long Island in 1779; attributed to the Hessian 
soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Passes winter as 
pupa or full-grown larva between blades and stalk of 
winter wheat; adults appear in spring (May) and lay 
" eggs on upper surface of leaves ; maggots hatch and go to 
the bases of leaves above first and second joints; maggot 
stage 20 das. or more; changes to a puparium and passes 
the summer as such in stubble ; fall flies appear in August 
and first days of September ; these lay eggs and produce 
puparia which pass the winter again; some flies may 
issue before winter. 

Food Plants — Eggs often on grass but larvas live only 
on wheat, barley and rye; so-called red wheat seems to 
be more exempt from injury than the white wheat (see 
Felt U. S. Bull. 31, p. 22); drought prolongs the flaxseed 
stage greatly. 

Control — Burn stubble or plow under to destroy 
flaxseeds; most efficient measure; destroy volunteer 
wheat; sow wheat late, not earlier than September 20th 
to escape deposition of eggs by fall flies; sow strips of 
wheat early in August and then plow under or burn first 
week in September. 

The wheat midge- {Coutarinia tr it-id) 

Order — Diptera 

An old European pest closely allied to the Hessian fly; 
the adult is bright orange colored and about one-third 
the size of a mosquito; the flies la}^ eggs in June between 



iWebster— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 70. 
2Marlatt— U. S. Farmers' Bull. 132. 



93 



94 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

the chaff of wheat heads; eggs hatch in about a week, and 
the reddish-yellow maggots extract the juices from the 
kernels causing the latter to become much shrunken and 
worthless either for seed or for flour; these "red- weevils" 
or maggots become full-grown in 3 or 4 weeks and 
some leave the heads, usually during a rain storm; these 
go into the ground and remain in cocoons until spring; 
others are carried into the thresher and come out in the 
screenings ; they remain in the chaff in a dried-up condition 
until spring; now occurs in nearly all the states east of 
the Mississippi; shrivelled kernels will not grow good 
strong plants, nor make good flour, hence such had better 
be fed out; no varieties are exempt, but beardless varie- 
ties suffer more injury than the bearded. 

Control — Burn or feed out screenings ; after harvest- 
ing deeply plow under the stubble; rotate the wheat to 
some distant field; early sown wheat may escape with 
less injury by the midge, but is more liable to the attack 
of the Hessian fly. 

The CHINCH-BUG' {Blissus leucopterus) 
Order — Hemiptera 

Not often injurious in the East; has been injurious 
over small areas in New York several times; two broods 
of the insect a year ; winters in the stools of grasses in the 
adult stage. 

Control — Western methods of fighting the insect 
with barriers and fungus diseases; consult bulletins 
and circulars from the Kansas and Illinois Experiment 
Stations. 

Wireworms- (several species) 

Order — Coleoptera 

These pests are the larvae or grubs of click-beetles of 
the family Elateridae. There are at least eight species 
that are injurious; the grubs are yellowish, cylindrical, 



iMarlatt — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 132. 
^Comstock and Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 33. 



WHEAT INSECTS 95 

and hard like wire, hence the name wireworms; these 
wireworms Hve two and in most cases nearly three years 
in the soil and near the end of the third summer they 
change to pupae in cells in the soil and later the pupae 
transform to the adult beetles which remain in their cells 
until spring thus taking three years to complete their life 
history; the beetles lay their eggs at the roots of grasses. 
Control — Difficult to control; conflicting evidence 
regarding coating of seeds; plowing and thorough 
cultivation in August and later for 2 or 3 years will kill 
the pupae and finally check the pests; salt will not kill 
wireworms unless it is applied in such large quantities 
that it completely unfits the soil for growing crops and 
even then is a doubtful killing agent. 

The w^heat stem-maggot^ {Meromyza americana) 
Order — Diptera 

The winter is passed as a larva; the adult flies emerge 
in May and deposit their eggs on wheat plants; second 
brood of adults appears in July and deposits eggs on 
volunteer wheat and grasses; adults from these eggs 
emerge in late August to October, and deposit eggs on 
young fall wheat plants, where they hatch into larvce 
and pass the winter; the larvae do the injury to young 
plants in fall and spring. 

Control — Sow late as for Hessian fly. 

The wheat straw-worm- {Isosoma grande) 
Order — Hymenoptera 

This pest is mainly injurious west of the Mississippi, 
but is distributed east. 

The adults always small and frequently wingless, 
emerge in April from stubble and deposit eggs in stems 
of young plants ; the larva eats out the embryonic head 
of the wheat plants and when full-grown goes down to 
the crown; adults appear from these, large and robust 



'Marlatt— U. S. Fanners' Bull. 132. 

^Webster and Reeves — U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 106. 



96 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

in June, and deposit eggs in stems just above the upper 
joints usually; by October the larvse pupate and pass 
the winter in stubble. 

Control — ^Burn stubble; rotate crops. 

The wheat joint-w^ormi (Isosoma tritici) 
Order — Hymenoptera 

First serious outbreak in Virginia in 1 848-1 854 and 
reappeared in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, Maryland, and Kansas, in 1904- 1908. 

Lives over winter as a larva in wheat straws; adults 
appear in April or May and lay eggs in stems of plants; 
larvse form cells in stems and feed there until straw 
hardens and grain ripens; change to pupae in spring; 
the larvae deform the straws, galls being formed above 
the joints; grains remain small and shrivelled or none 
produced. 

Control — Strengthen fertility of soil to produce 
strong plants; burn stubble where not seeded or plow 
under deeply; rotate crops. 

The army worm^ {Heliopkila unipimcta) 
Order— Lepidoptera 

For years there have been outbreaks of this pest in 
various localities in the eastern United States. Out- 
breaks in New York State in 1861, 1875, 1880, 1896; 
the larvae migrate in immense numbers from one field to 
another, destroying the vegetation in their path. 

The eggs are deposited in unfolded grass leaves or into 
the sheath of the leaf where it clasps the stem ; the larvae 
attain their growth in about 30 days and go into the 
ground to pupate; the pupal stage lasts from 10 days to 
3 or 4 weeks depending on the season; the winter is 
passed as larvae; there are evidently three broods, the 
middle of July brood being the most abundant and 
injurious. 

Webster— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 66. 
Houser — Ohio Bull. 226. 
^Forbes— 23d Rept. 111. State Ent. 



CORN INSECTS 97 

Control — Usually fought by barriers in the same 
way as the chinch bug and by poison baits (see page 94) . 

Other insects injurious to wheat 

Spring grain-aphis {Toxoptera graminum). 
Wheat sawfly borer {Cephus pygmceus). 
Wheat sawfly {Pachynematus extensicornis) . 
Wheat-louse {Nectarophora avence). 
Leather- jackets {Tipulidce sps). 

CORN PESTS 

WiREWORMS (several species) 
These have been fully discussed under wheat pests. 
They are quite as injurious to corn as to wheat. In 
fact, they constitute one of the chief pests of corn in 
New York State. 

The army worm {Heliophila unipuncta) 
The army worm is injurious to wheat, corn, oats, and 
many other grains. There are occasional outbreaks 
of this insect in New York, which are often very serious. 
The season of 1914 witnessed some serious injuries by 
this insect. It has been discussed under wheat pests. 

Cutworms (several species) 
There are several species that injure corn as well as 
wheat. They are apt to be more abundant and severe 
on corn planted on sod. They have been discussed under 
wheat pests. 

White grubs (Lachnosterfia sps.) 
These are injurious to many crops notably, straw- 
berries, wheat, corn and oats. They were discussed under 
strawberry pests. 

Sod WEBWORMSi (Crambus sps.) 
Order — Lepidoptera 
These are the larvae of a family of small moths of the 
family Cramhidce; the larvae are about one-half inch 



iPorbes— 23d Rept. 111. State Ent. 



98 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

in length and pinkish-red or brownish; they work at 
first underground gnawing away the outer surface of 
the stem and roots; later, they burrow up the center 
of the stem ; they also sometimes eat the leaves ; usually 
the web -worms will be found just below the surface each 
in a retreat formed by loosely webbing together a mass 
of dirt; within the mass is a silk-lined tube and within 
this a caterpillar; so far as known all of the species pass 
the winter as caterpillars not full-grown. 

Control — Break land early in fall or as late as pos- 
sible in spring to destroy larvae. 

The corn bill-bugs' (Sphenophorus sp.) 

Order — Coleoptera 

These are snout -beetles of various sizes and colors; 
they are more common in the South than here; with 
exception of one species, the grub of which may live in the 
pith of the stalk, the injury to corn is done by adult 
beetles. 

The chinch bug {BUssus leucopterus) 

The pest often attacks corn as well as wheat and 
becomes very injurious where it is abundant. It has 
been discussed under wheat pests. 

Other insects injurious to corn 

Stalk-borer (Papaipema nitela). 

Seed-corn maggot (Phorbia fusiceps) . 

Corn ear-worm (Heliothis ohsoleta). 

Corn root-aphis {Aphis maidiradicis) . 

Northern com root -worm {Diabrotica longiconiis) . 



^Forbes— 23d Kept. 111. State Ent. 



CLOVER INSECTS 99 

(LOVER AND ALFALFA PESTS 

Clover root-borer^ {Ilylastmns obsciirits) 
Order — Coleoptera 

A small, dark-brown beetle imported fromi Europe 
that works on second year and older clover roots; eggs 
laid in cavities dug in roots and larvae bore galleries in the 
roots causing plants to wilt and break off at crown; 
pupae form in cavities in roots and adults appear by 
October but remain in roots over winter feeding when 
not dormant; attacks alfalfa, red clover, mammoth 
clover and alsike. 

Control — Plow an infested field immediately after 
hay gathered; never allow clover to stand more than 
two years if it becomes infested. 

Clover leaf-beetle- {Hypera punctata) 
Order — Coleoptera 

A small beetle which works on the leaves, mostly at 
night ; the grubs also work in a similar manner ; most of 
its injury is done in May and June; when full-grown the 
grubs change to pupae in peculiar, yellowish network 
cocoons of silk in the soil; beetles usually hibernate 
but many die before spring; larvae hibernate through 
winter. 

Control — A fungus disease usually kills the grubs 
in most localities; plow under the infested fields after 
second season thus destroying the early stages of the 
insect. 

Clover flower-midge^ (Dasyneura leguminicola) 

Order — Diptera 

This fly often prevents the formation of seed; eggs are 
laid in green flower-heads and the maggots suck out the 
contents of ovary; when grown the maggots enter the 



iPolsom — Illinois Bull. 134. 
Howard— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 4. 
- 'Folsom — Illinois Bull. 134. 



100 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

ground and pupate; the insect passes the winter either 
as pupa or a larva in the soil or in dead clover heads; 
there are two broods and a partial third; most damage 
to seed crop is done latter part of August or first part of 
September; most injury occurs to second-year clover 
and keeps increasing as clover is allowed to stand. 

Control — Cut first crop of clover as early as possible 
to allow seed to form early ahead of second generation of 
midges; pasturing the first crop does almost as well. 

Clover seed-caterpillars {Enarmonia inter stinctana) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

The caterpillars of this moth eat out cavities in the 
heads of clover and often become very destructive; 
there are three broods a season ; probably pass the winter 
as larvae occasionally, usually as pupae. 

Control — Cut and store hay crops early in June; 
do not allow clover to run more than two years; pasture 
clover in fall of first year. 

Clover seed-chalcid^ (Bruchophagus funehris) 
Order — Hymen optera 

This small wasp-like insect is one of our worst clover 
pests; the tiny larvae eat out the insides of the seeds 
leaving only a thin shell; the insects pass the winter 
mostly as larvse in the seeds on the ground; the adults 
appear about May 15th and lay their eggs in flowers of 
clover; second brood appears in July and August; 
injury is greatest to the second-year clover. 

Control — Cut first crop early, as soon as the field 
comes into bloom; plow up clover after second crop, 
plow early in spring. 

Clover hay-worm^ (Hypsopygia costalis) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

This hay- worm works in stacked or stored clover, 
eating much of it and contaminating much more with 

1 ^ ^Folsom — lUinois Bull. 134. 



CLOVER INSECTS loi 

webs of silk and particles of excrement, making the hay 
unfit for fodder. 

Control — In a barn, old hay should be removed and 
burned if infested; a stack should be raised above the 
ground on old logs or rails ; salt bottom of stack up two or 
three feet. 

The alfalfa leaf-weevil^ {Phytonomus niurinus) 
Order — Coleoptera 

Introduced from Europe; first found in 1904 near 
Salt Lake City, Utah; very destructive and hard to 
control; the adult is a snout beetle about 3-16 inches in 
length; hibernates as an adult; lays eggs in spring 
down between leaves or in punctures in the stems of 
clover plants ; the life cycle may be from 40 to 70 days 
and adult beetles may live from 10 to 14 months; ap- 
parently confined to Utah but liable to spread widely. 

Control — -Very difficult to control; cut first growth 
when most of eggs laid and brush-drag the field; clean 
culture about fields to destroy the hibernating places; 
do not grow alfalfa more than 7 or 8 years in infected 
districts. 

Other insects injurious to clover and alfalfa 

Clover leaf -midge (Dasyneura trifolii). 

Clover stem-borer {Languria mozardi). 

Clover sitones {Sitones flavescens). 

Clover-root mealy bug {Pseudococciis trifolii). 

Alfalfa looper (AtUographa gamma calif ornica) . 

Clover-root curculio {Sitones hispiduhts). 

Alfalfa gall midge {Asphondylia miki). 

Lesser clover-leaf weevil {Phytonomus nigrirostris) . 



iTitus— Utah Bull. no. 



I02 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

COTTON PESTS 
Me:x;ican cotton boll-weevil^ (Anthonomus grandis) 
Order — Coleoptera 

Introduced from Mexico about 1892; a grayish-black 
snout beetle, about }i inch in length; punctures squares 
and bolls and deposits eggs in them: life cycle about 
15 to 20 days; several generations in a season and all 
stages passed in squares and bolls; passes winter as 
adults and causes millions of dollars loss each year. 

Control — Plant cotton early; plant early varieties 
and hasten maturity by fertilization and cultivation; 
plant wide in rows ; burn infested plants in fall to destroy 
all stages of weevil; rotate crops and diversify. 

Cotton worm- {Alabama argillacea) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

The cotton moth lays its eggs on leaves of cotton; 
young larva feeds for a time on the undersides of leaves 
but soon begins to devour leaves entirely ; changes to a 
pupa in a flimsy cocoon in a leaf; life cycle about four 
weeks on the average; several generations during a 
season; passes winter as adults in extreme South; 
migrate northward in spring. 

Control — Dusting cotton with powdered arsenate 
of lead best method; this insect is now held to be of 
value in controlling the boll weevil and therefore is not 
fought as it used to be. 

Cotton boll-worm'^ {Heliothis ohsoleta) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

One of the serious pests of cotton ; moth deposits ribbed 
eggs on leaves of cotton; larva feeds for a short time on 
leaves but soon bores into a boll Where it destroys the 
lint; life cycle about 30 days in summer; four genera- 



iHunter— Par's. Bull. 344, U. S. Dept, Agri. 
^Hunter— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 153. 
sQuaintance— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 50. 



TOBACCO INSECTS 103 

tions a season; passes winter as pupa 3 to 6 inches 
below the surface of the soil ; also attacks corn and toma- 
toes. 

Control— Use trap crops of corn; plough land 
thoroughly during fall and winter; plant crop early in 
spring; rotate and diversify crops. 

Other insects injurious to cotton 

Cotton aphis {Aphis gossypii). 
Cotton root-louse {Aphis maidiradicis) . 
Cotton red spider {Tetra^iychus telarius). 
Cotton stalk-borer {Ataxia crypta). 
Cotton stainer {Dysdercus suturellus). 

TOBACCO PESTS 

Tobacco flea beetle ^ (Epitrix parvula) 
Order — Coleoptera 

A small yellowish-brown flea beetle about 1-20 of 
an inch long ; it eats small holes through tobacco leaves ; 
eggs probably laid near food plants and larvae feed on 
roots ; life cycle apparently about one month ; probably 
three generations; adults winter over. 

Control — Destroy all weeds of the potato family; 
in seed beds and in fields arsenate of lead seems to give 
best results. 

Southern tobacco horn-worm- {Phlegethontius sexta) 

Order — Lepidoptera 

Large green worms with horn on posterior end of body ; 
they eat ravenously and do much injury; when full- 
grown goes into soil to pupate ; pupa large and proboscis 
forms a handle-like organ; life cycle in summer about 
six weeks in South ; two broods ; last brood passes winter 
in ground as pupa; the adult moth has wing expanse of 
about 5 inches. 



^Morgan — U. S. Bu, Ent., Circ. 123. 
^Morgan— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 123. 



104 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Control — Hand pick; dust tobacco with powdered 
arsenate of lead. 

Tobacco SFhiTWORU^ {Phthorimcea operculella) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

Eggs laid on leaves of plant; larvae mine between the 
surfaces of the leaves; two or more generations in a 
season; also works in tubers of potatoes. 

Control- — Clean cultivation ; rotation of crops ; prob- 
ably arsenical sprays. 

Other insects injurious to tobacco 

Cut worms (several species). 
False tobacco bud worm {Heliothis ohsoleta). 
Tobacco bud worm (Chloridea virescens). 
Tobacco "suck-fly" (Dicyphus minimus). 
Cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) . 



^Chittenden— U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 162. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO STORED GRAIN 

The more important pests are: 

The granary weevil (Calandra granaria). 

The rice weevil {Calandra oryzce). 

The saw-toothed grain beetle {Silvanus surinametisis). 

The Angoumois grain moth {Sitotroga cerealella) . 

The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) . 

The Mediterranean flour moth {Ephesiia kueJmiella) . 

The bean weevil {Bruchus ohtectus). 

The pea weevil (Brnchus pisorum). 

Control — One of the best ways to keep seed corn, 
seed peas, wheat, beans, etc., is to store them in barrels 
or tight boxes; fill the boxes or barrels within 4 or 5 
inches of the top and cover; if weevils or moths get in 
them pour carbon bisulphide, at the rate of 2 pounds to 
100 bushels of grain, into a tin dish and set this on top 
of the grain and cover the box or barrel with old blankets ; 
leave covered 3 or 4 days; the liquid will evaporate and 
the gas will settle down through the grain and kill the 
insects ; do not go near the boxes with a light of any kind 
until the covers have been removed and the boxes tho- 
roughly aired. 

See U. S. Dept. Agrl. Farmers' Bull, 45. 



105 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO GREENHOUSE PLANTS 
White-fly (Aleyrodes vaporariorum) 
Order — ^Hemiptera 

The nymphs are small, greenish, scale-like insects 
found on the undersides of the leaves; the adults are 
minute, white-winged flies. 

Control — Spray with kerosene emulsion or whale-oil 
soap or "black leaf 40" and soap; if infesting cucumbers 
or tomatoes fumigate over night with hydrocyanic acid 
gas, I ounce of potassium cyanide to 1,000 cubic feet of 
space. 

Green aphis (Myzus persiav) 

Order — Hemiptera 

Control — Spray with kerosene emulsion or "black 
leaf 40" and soap or fumigate with tobacco paper; if on 
violets fumigate with >^ to ^ ounce potassium cyanide 
to 1 ,000 cubic feet of space and leave gas in >^ to i hour. 

Black aphis {Nectarophora chrysanthemicolens.) 

Order — Hemiptera 

Control — This is harder to kill than the green aphis 
but may be controlled by the same methods although a 
little more persistence may be demanded. 

Red spider {Tetranychus telarius) 
Order — Acarina 

These mites attack house plants and plants in green- 
houses and plants in flower gardens. 

Control — Syringe off the plants with clear water 
2 or 3 times a week, taking care not to drench the beds 
in greenhouse; on outdoor plants use sulphur mixed in 
water at the rate of 16 pounds to 50 gallons water. 



I(;6 



GREENHOUSE INSECTS 107 

Violet gall fly {Diplosis violicola) 
Order — Diptera 

Violets grown under glass are often greatly injured by 
a very small maggot which causes the edges of the leaves 
to curl, turn yellowish and die; the adult is a very minute 
fly resembling a mosquito. 

Control — Pick off and destroy infested leaves as 
soon as discovered; fumigation is not advised. 

Greenhouse leaf tyer (Phlyctcenia ferrugalis) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

• An old offender in greenhouses; attacks chrysanthe- 
mums, geraniums, cinerarias and other plants; eats off 
lower epidermis of leaves, ties them together and causes 
much injury; the caterpillar is about ^ inches in length, 
greenish-white in color with stripes along the back; 
several generations in a year. 

Control — Hand picking is about the only remedy. 

Other insects injurious in greenhouses 

Marguerite fly {Phytomyza chrysanthemi). 
White grubs {Lachnosterna sps.). 
Leaf roller (Archips rosaceana) . 
Cut worms {several species.) 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO SHADE TREES 

The elm leaf-beetle^ {Galerucella Uiteola) 

Order — Coleoptera 

Introduced from Europe and first found here in 1834 
in Baltimore; the beetle is about one-fourth of an inch 
long, brownish-yellow in color with a dark line along 
each side of its back ; the adults and larvae eat the leaves 
and defoliate the trees. 

The full-grown beetles hibernate in cracks and crevices 
especially in attics of houses and appear in spring as the 
leaves are putting out ; they lay their orange-colored eggs 
on the undersides of the leaves ; these hatch in 5 or 6 days ; 
the grubs eat the leaves and mature in 1 5 to 20 days and 
pupate at the bases of the trees on top of the ground; 
in 6 to 10 days the adults appear and in New York there 
is a second generation. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead as trees come 
in full leaf for the beetles and again about 3 weeks later 
for the grubs; use 3 to 4 pounds to 50 gallons of water; 
the Gipsy-moth Commission sprays but once and uses 
5 pounds to 50 gallons; they spray as soon as trees come 
into good leafage. 

The elm leaf-miner- {Kaliosysphmga ulnii) 
Order — ^Hymenoptera 

The leaf -miner is another European insect but it works 
on Scotch and English elms; it is a sawfly and the 
larvae "bhster" and kill the leaves; the adults are small, 
shining black sawflies, about one-eighth of an inch long. 

The eggs are laid in May beneath the epidermis of the 
leaves and the larvae mine in the tissues of the leaf mak- 
ing large irregular mines or "blisters" in the leaves; 
they become mature in July and go into the ground 



iHerrick — Cornell Bull. 333. 

Felt— Bull. 20 of the N. Y. State Museum. 
^Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 233. 

Herrick — Cornell Bull. 333. 

108 



SHADE TREE INSECTS 109 

where they make thin papery cocoons and remain in 
them until next spring; they then change to pupae and 
the flies appear in May; only one generation. 

Control— Spray the leaves just as the mines begin to 
show, about first of June, with "black leaf 40," i pint to 
100 gallons of water with 5 pounds of soap. 

The white-marked tussock-moth ^ {Hemerocampa leu- 

costigma) 

Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 310 

The tussock moth is a native insect that is very 
injurious at times to shade-trees and fruit-trees; the 
larva is very striking in appearance ; it is two inches long 
and bears four tufts or tussocks of creamy white hairs on 
its back with two long pencils of hairs on its head and a 
third on the posterior end of the abdomen. 
■ The moth lays its eggs in whitish masses in summer on 
the trees; they remain here until the following spring 
and then hatch into the caterpillars that strip the trees 
of foliage; these caterpillars often migrate from tree to 
tree; when full-grown they make cocoons on the trees 
and change to pupse; one brood a season except in 
extreme southeastern part of State. 

Control — Collect egg masses during fall and winter; 
spray trees with arsenate of lead, 3 pounds to 50 gallons; 
band trees with cotton in June, July, and August. 

The fall web-worm^ {Hyphantria ciinea) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 321 

This is a typical American species and found from 
Canada to Texas; it has been recorded as feeding upon 
120 species of trees; the moths are white or spotted with 
black and conspicuous; the larvae make ugly silken nests 
all over affected trees. 

The moths lay 400 to 500 eggs in clusters on the leaves ; 
the caterpillars feed in masses and spin webs enclosing 



^Howard — U. S. Farmers' Bull. 99. 

^Felt — Insects Affecting Park and Woodland Trees, Vol. i, p. 142. 



no INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

leaves; they pupate in cocoons on ground under trash 
or about trunks of trees; farther south there are two 
broods, but only one in central and northern New York; 
the pupae pass the winter in cocoons. 

Control — Cut out nests of larvag; spray with arsenate 
of lead around the nests of the larvae. 



Bronze birch-borers {Agrilus anxius) 
Order — Coleoptera 

This is a small olive-bronze colored beetle about one- 
half an inch long that is killing so many of the white 
birches in New York State. It attacks the tops branches 
first but gradually spreads to all parts of the tree. The 
larvae bore through the sap-wood just beneath the bark 
and sometimes deeper into the solid wood. The larvae 
pupate in cells beneath the bark and in May or early 
June the beetles make round exit holes in the bark and 
emerge through these. 

Control — The only way of arresting the spread of the 
pest and stopping the death of healthy trees is to cut 
down and burn the infested ones before May first. 



Willow and poplar borer- (Cryptorhynchus lapatJn) 
Order — Coleoptera 

This is a beetle somewhat resembling the plum curculio 
but much larger, that is becoming a serious menace to 
poplar and willow trees both in the nursery and on the 
lawn. The larvae bore through the wood finally causing 
the death of the tree. The presence of the larvae is 
indicated by the appearance of sawdust and particles 
of excrement thrown outside. 

Control — Cut out infested portions and burn before 
June. 



'Slingerland — Cornell Bull. 234. 
^Schoene — Geneva Bull. 286. 



SHADE TREE INSECTS in 

Hickory bark-borer^ {Scolytiis quadrispinosiis) 
Order — Coleoptera 

The adult is a small brown or black beetle about one- 
fifth of an inch long; the leaves wilt and twigs die in 
midsummer and the bark will be found full of small shot- 
like holes through which the beetles have emerged ; it is 
a most serious pest to hickory trees. 

The beetles appear last of June to last of July; they 
bore in young twigs, terminal buds and green nuts; 
females make galleries just under bark in sapwood and 
lay eggs in niches along the sides; larvae tunnel through 
sapwood and kill trees; grubs pass winter nearly ftill 
grown in galleries under bark. 

Control — Cut out badly infested trees and aft'ected 
portions of others and burn before June. 

The snow-white linden moth- {Ennomos subs-igfiarius) 
Order — -Lepidoptera 

Half a century ago this insect was a pest of shade- 
trees in Brooklyn and Philadelphia; became abundant 
again in 1907 and then was injurious in forests of New- 
York for four years; the moths are pure white and 
have the habit of appearing in enormous numbers 
around lights in cities where their appearance has been 
compared to snowstorms. 

Eggs are laid on branches in masses of 20 to 100 or more 
in June and July ; hatch the next spring in April and May ; 
caterpillars strip leaves and mature in June and July and 
pupate in loose cocoons on leaves; moths appear from 
middle of June to last of July and soon deposit eggs; 
one brood a year. 

Control— On fruit trees spray with arsenate of lead, 
2}^ pounds to 50 gallons of water; no control for forest 
trees known. 



Telt — Insects Affecting Park and Woodland Trees, Vol. i, p. 27s. 
-Herrick— Cornell Bull. 286. 



112 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

The brown-tail moth^ {Euproctis chrysorrhcea) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

Probably introduced from Holland on shipments of 
roses by nursery in Somerville, Mass., about 1893; 
now in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and 
New Hampshire and other states ; the larvae feed on pear, 
apple, cherry, peach, and other fruit-trees and on forest- 
trees ; the moths are pure white with a tuft of brown hairs 
on end of abdomen, hence name, "brown-tail" moths; 
the hairs of the larvae are brittle and barbed and when 
they strike the skin cause a nettle or rash quite serious 
to some people. 

Eggs laid in July in masses of 200 to 400 on leaves 
and covered with brown hair from body of female; they 
hatch and the larvae feed in groups on leaves until fall 
when they go into hibernation in hibernacula made by 
webbing many leaves together, at the ends of branches; 
in the spring they eat leaves again and become full-grown 
latter part of June; pupate in cocoons in crevices of 
bark and other nooks; moths appear in July; one 
generation a season. 

Control — Spray with arsenate of lead for caterpillars 
3 to 5 pounds to 50 gallons of water; cut out nests of 
larvae during dormant period of tree. 

The gipsy moth^ (Porthetria dispar) 
Order — Lepidoptera 

The gipsy moth gained a foothold by the escape of 
larvae or eggs from the cages of Professor Trouvelot at 
Maiden, Mass., about 1869; now found in Connecticut, 
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and 
Maine ; the female moth" has white wings marked with 
dark, wavy lines while the male is light brown in color. 

Eggs laid in clusters of 300 to 400 in July and covered 
with hair; they are deposited in crevices of bark, brush 
piles, stone-walls, etc., and hatch the next spring in May; 
larvae mature last of June and first of July and pupate in 



1 2Rogers and Burgess— U. S. Bu. Ent. Bull. 87. 



SHADE TREE INSECTS 113 

various places in thin network of silk; the moths appear 
in July and deposit eggs; only one generation a year; 
the food plants are almost all trees, especially apple, oak, 
and willows. 

Control — Spray trees with arsenate of lead, 3 to 5 
pounds to 50 gallons of water; burlap trees for hiding 
places for larvae and then kill the caterpillars.; tanglefoot 
of use in catching larvae; treat egg-clusters with crude 
coal-tar creosote blackened with lampblack to tell what 
ones have been treated. 

Other insects injurious to shade trees 

• Pigeon horn-tail (Tremex columha). 
Maple borer {Plagionotus speciosus). 
Elm borer (Saperda tridentata). 
Maple scale {Pulvinaria innumerahilis) . 
Leopard moth {Zeuzera pyrina). 
Locust borer {Cyllene rohinice). 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FARM ANIMALS 

SHEEP PESTS 

Sheep botfly or head maggot' {CEstrus ovis) 

Order — Diptera. Manual, p. 478 

The adult insect is a two-winged fly that deposits 
living maggots in the nostrils of sheep; the maggots 
pass upward into the nasal sinuses and sometimes into 
the horns; accounts record the presence of the maggots 
in the brain; the maggots attach themselves to the deli- 
cate membranes by means of two hooks and feed upon 
the mucous secretions, causing catarrh and staggers; 
when full-grown the maggots are sneezed out through 
the nostrils and go into the ground to undergo their 
transformations; the flies are most active in June and 
July; the maggots live in the nose about ten months; 
the adults have no functional mouth-parts and do not 
feed. 

Control — Plow^ a piece of land in pasture and harrow 
until fine and dusty for sheep to stand on; smear noses 
often in summer with equal parts of tar and grease ; bore 
holes in a log and put salt in them after which smear 
edges of holes with tar and grease; no medicine will 
reach grubs; do not use a wire in nostrils. 

Itch or scab- {Psoroptes communis) 
Order — ^Acarina 

Sheep scab is strictly a contagious disease and is 
responsible for much loss among western sheep growers, 
through death of animals and damage to wool; also 
exporters suffer loss because American live stock are 
prohibited from Europe. 

Scab is caused by small mites that work in the skin 
causing the wool to fall off and producing, large scabs 
over the body ; there are four varieties of mites that work 

•Osborn— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 5, p. 102. 
^Salmon and Stiles— U. S. Bu. An. Ind., Bull. 21. 

114 



SHEEP INSECTS 115 

on sheep and cause scab — the mite causing the common 
or "body scab"; the mite causing the "head scab"; the 
mite causing the "foot scab"; and the mite causing the 
"folHcular scab" affecting the eyehds. 

The common scab is a severe itching disease and occurs 
most often on the backs and sides where the wool is 
longest ; it is the worst form of the disease in this country ; 
the mites multiply with wonderful rapidity; one female 
lays 15 to 24 eggs which hatch in 2 or 3 days, and in 15 
days the young become adults; in 3 months a single 
female can produce 1,000,000 progeny. 

Control — When far advanced, soften the scab with 
some kind of grease or oil, and then apply some of the 
common "sheep dips"; the active ingredients in most 
"dips" are tobacco, arsenic and carbolic acid; each sheep 
will require from a quart to a gallon; use the dip at a 
temperature of 100 degrees in summer and 10 degrees 
warmer in winter ; a simple method of treating a few sheep 
is to turn them on their back and pour the dip along the 
middle line of the venter; where large numbers are to 
be dipped, special tanks are made; a kerosene emulsion 
is also a good sheep "dip"; a second or third dipping 
may be necessary, as the dips do not often kill the eggs, 
and another brood may appear later. 

The sheep "tick^" {Melophagus oviniis) 

Order — Diptera. Manual, p. 488 

A curious, degraded, wingless insect belonging to the 
same order as the gad-flies and the common housefly; 
it is thus not a true tick; very common on sheep, but 
seldom causes serious injury to old sheep; lambs are 
often worried and hindered from acquiring fat; the 
"ticks" cling very tenaciously to the skin and suck the 
blood ; the eggs are hatched within the body of the flies, 
the maggot is nourished there until it is nearly full-grown, 
and is not born until it is ready to change to a pupa; 
each fly produces from two to fifteen of these brown 
puparia, one-third as large as the mother fly; they are 



•Osborn— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 5, p. 138. 



ii6 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

laid in the wool to which they adhere, and they give 
out the adult fly in about three weeks; the "ticks" are 
most numerous in the spring, cause much irritation, and 
hinder young lambs from making their normal growth; 
their whole life is spent on the sheep. 

CoNTROL^ — Keep the pen clean; after shearing, apply 
any of the standard "dips" or kerosene emulsions. 

The sheep louse (Trichodectes sphcerocephalus) 

A biting louse that works at the base of the wool; 
not often abundant. 

CATTLE PESTS 

The ox warble, or heel fly^ {Hypoderma lineata) 
Order — Diptera. Manual p. 478 

The ox bot-fly is widely distributed in this country 
and Europe; it is found on the buffalo (Bison) here; 
it causes much loss by affecting the general health of 
animals and also by its perforations of hides, thus lower- 
ing their value. 

The adult flies are about one-half inch in length and 
bee-like in appearance; the eggs are apparently laid on 
the hair around the heel and on the lower part of the leg, 
although it was formerly thought, and this idea is not 
now wholly abandoned, that the egg was laid along the 
back ; Curtice showed that the cattle licked the eggs and 
conveyed the larva to the mouth where it passed through 
the oesophagus and worked its way just beneath the 
skin to its final resting place along the back; there the 
larvae produce swellings or warbles and after completing 
their growth wriggle out and go into the ground in the 
spring; here they change to pupse and finally the adult 
fly appears; the flies seem to annoy cattle very much 
although they do not bite or sting; 50% of the cattle in 
the Mississippi Valley are affected. 

Control — ^Apply kerosene or grease to the "warbles" 
in the winter, or as soon as noticed; this will close up the 



lOsborn— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 5, p. 97. 



CATTLE INSECTS 117 

breathing holes of the maggots and cause their death; 
remove by squeezing or otherwise, the maggots from the 
"warbles". 



The horn-fly^ {Hceniatobia serrata = Lyperosia irritans) 
Order — -Diptera 

The horn-fly is another importation from Europe; it 
came to America in 1886 and landed near Philadelphia 
apparently; it is now distributed all over the country; 
the adults are about half as large as the house-fly; they 
annoy cattle very much and cause a large loss to the milk 
supply. 

The flies lay their eggs in fresh cow droppings; the 
maggots attain their growth there in a few days and 
burrow just beneath the surface of the earth and change 
to pupae; the adults soon appear; the whole life cycle 
may be gone through in two weeks and there are four or 
five broods in a season. The adults have a habit of 
gathering on the bases of the horns but cause no injury 
at this place; the flies are common from May until 
frosts of autumn. 

Control — Almost any greasy substance, like axle 
grease, fish oil, kerosene emulsion, crude petroletim, etc., 
applied to the afflicted parts will keep the flies away for 
several days ; where sores are formed, add a little carbolic 
acid to the grease or oil; tobacco powder will kill the flies 
if it is dusted on them; spread out or mix lime with 
the fresh cow droppings; spray cows with crude petro- 
leum. Also see repellant mixtures p. 120. 

Sucking cattle lice- {Hcematopinus eurysternus) 

{HcBmatopinus vituli) 

Order — Hemiptera 

There are two species of sucking lice, the short -nosed 
ox louse and the long-nosed ox louse; they are apt to be 



'Osbom— U. S. Bu. Ent., BuU. 5, p. 114. 
^Osbom— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 5, p. 172. 



118 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

abundant especially on calves and on poorly cared for 
and ill-fed cattle; on these they may cause injuiy. 

The eggs are attached to the hairs of the animal and 
the young lice gradually develop to the adults ; life history 
not well known. 

Control — An infusion of stavesacre seeds seems to be 
the most accepted remedy. Four ounces stavesacre 
(Delphinium) seeds, i ounce white hellebore boiled in 

1 gallon of water vmtil only 2 quarts remain and applied 
with a brush where lice are seen; kerosene emulsion, 
15%' or crude petroleum rubbed in among the hairs; 

2 or 3 applications of either at an interval of one week. 

The biting cattle louse^ {Trichodectcs scalaris) 
Order — Mallophaga 

This species of louse is common the world over and is 
often very abundant ; they do not seem to be as injurious 
as the sucking lice attributable to the fact, probably, 
that they do not suck blood; they are smaller than the 
sucking lice ; they are generally found in more abundance 
in the spring of the year ; at this time eggs and adults are 
easily found. 

Control — Same as for the sucking lice. 

Southern cattle tick'- (Boophilus (uuiuhitus) 
Order — Acarina 

One of the ticks, thus not a true insect. It is the 
carrier of Texas fever, a blood disease caused by a minute 
protozoan parasite working in the red blood corpuscles; 
the ticks drop from the cattle when full grown and lay 
eggs, sometimes as many as 3,000 among the grass; 
the young ticks which hatch must find their way to the 
cattle to live, and these young ticks will introduce the 
disease to healthy stock; infested Southern cattle often 
introduce the disease into Northern herds, but -as our cold 
winters kill the ticks, the disease disappears unless re- 



lOsborn— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 5, p. 209. 
^Mohler— U. S. Bu. An. Ind., Bull. 78. 



HORSE INSECTS 119 

introduced in Southern ticks brought north the next 
season. 

Control — Thoroughbred Northern cattle are now 
taken south and there inoculated and only a mild form 
of the disease produced; a starving-out process, now 
being practiced by rotation of pastures or feed lots. 

PESTS OF HORSES 

Bot-fly^ {Gastrophilus equi) 
Order — Diptera. Manual, p. 477 

The adults are about three-fourths of an inch long 
and rather light brown in color; the fly does not bite or 
sting yet many horses are much worried by its presence ; 
authorities differ as to injury by the bots; they may 
irritate the stomach; may absorb much nutriment from 
the stomach contents, and may cause irritation in the 
intestines. 

The fly attaches its eggs to the hairs on the legs and 
shoulders of horse; eggs licked off by horse and carried 
to stomach where the maggots or "bots" attach them- 
selves to the walls of this organ; they usually spend six 
months in the digestive organs; probably not more than 
one maggot in fifty ever reach stomach; they live in the 
dung during May or June, go into ground and pupate. 

Control — Shave off the eggs with a sharp knife or 
razor once in two weeks at least; kill eggs by running 
over them lightly with kerosene or by dilute carbolic acid, 
one part acid to 30 parts water. 

The chin bot-fly {Gastrophilus uasalis) 
Attaches its eggs to the hairs of the lips and nostrils 
and to the hairs of the throat. 

Control — Same as foregoing species. 

Horse-fly or gad fly^ {Tabaniis atratus) 
Order — Diptera 
A large black fly that flies swiftly, bites fiercely and is 
a persistent enemy of horses and cattle; eggs have bee;n 

lOsbom— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 5, p. 76. 
^Garman — Ken. Bull. isi. 



I20 INSECTvS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

found attached to leaves overhanging water; larvae 
live in marshy ground and along streams; these flies 
often become abundant and injurious to cattle and horses 
but they do not produce "warbles" or bots. 

Control — Success has been obtained by putting 
kerosene oil on pools of water frequented by these flies. 
They are killed by coming in contact with the oil. Cer- 
tain repellant mixtures may be put on cattle but difficult 
among large herds. Nets on horses are a protection. 

A PEST OF HOGS 

The hog louse ^ {Hcematopinns uriiis) 
Order — Hemiptera 

Occasionally this species appears in great numbers on 
swine; a full-grown louse measures one-fourth inch or 
more in length ; it is gray in color and has sucking mouth- 
parts. 

Control — Washes of dilute carbolic acid (i to 30) or 
the tobacco extracts or kerosene emulsion will control 
these lice; a wallowing trough of cement with a film of 
oil on top is a very good method of control. 

Other insects injurious to live stock 

Turkey gnat (black-fly) [Simiilium meridional e). 
Buffalo gnat (black-fly) {Simulium pecuariim). 
Brown gad-fly [Tahanns exul). 
Ear-fly {Clirysops vittatus). 
Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans). 
Screw-worm fly (Paralucilia macellaria) . . 
Lone star tick {Amblyomma unipuncta). 

Repellants for flies on live stock 

Many mixtures have been recommended for applica- 
tion to horses and cattle to protect them from the attacks 
of flies. No one of these repellants has proved entirely 
satisfactory because of the trouble of application, the 
transitory effectiveness of the material, and the possi- 



lOsborn— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 5, p. 178. 



SWINE INSECTS I2I 

bility of injury to the animal to which the mixture has 
been appHed. 

The following mixtures are simple compounds and 
perhaps as effective as any in present use: 

^Fish oil loo parts 

Oil of tar 50 " 

Crude carbolic acid '. i part 

Apply with hand spray pump or with a brush. 

^Fish oil I gallon 

Oil of tar 2 ounces 

Oil of pennyroyal 2 ounces 

Kerosene ^2 pint 

Apply lightly with a brush. 

■ Crude cotton-seed oil 2 parts 

Pine tar i part 

Apply at milking time with a brush. 

'Moort — -South Dakota Bull. 81, pp. 41-42. 
^Bishop — U. S. Dept. Agri., Par's. Bull. 540. 
'Weed— Miss. Bull. 28. 



EXTERNAL PARASITES OF POULTRY 

The external parasites of poultry are many in number, 
at least i8 different kinds of mites and 9 or lo different 
kinds of lice are parasitic on poultry. One tick and two 
fleas are also found as pests on domestic fowls, 

Chicken mite^ {Dermanyssiis gaUifice) 
Order — Acarina 

The chicken mite can be found in almost any poultry 
house and often exceedingly abundant in some, especially 
unclean ones ; it has a marked effect on egg production ; 
will prevent hens from fattening and will drive sitting 
hens from nests ; it causes a high mortality among young 
chicks and is a pernicious pest; the mouth parts are 
fitted for piercing and sucking and the mites suck 
the blood of their hosts; they are usually found on fowls 
only at night, for they ramain hidden during the day 
in cracks and crevices of the perches and houses. 

The mite varies in color from pale yellowish to red; 
it deposits small white eggs in cracks and crevices of the 
perches and nest boxes; these hatch in 3 or 4 days into 
almost white six-legged mites .that gradually grow by 
casting their skins until the}^ become adults with 8 legs; 
they increase enormously. 

Control — Poultry houses should be built so that 
every part of them is well lighted and aired; the houses 
should be kept scrupulously clean; the houses should be 
built so that the perches, nest boxes, etc., may be readily 
removed leaving only four bare walls; spray the inside 
of houses with one part crude carbolic acid and three parts 
kerosene; sitting hens should be isolated from laying 
hens; a dust bath should be provided for the fowls. 



'Herrick — Mississippi Bull. 78. 
Repp — Iowa Bull. 69. 



POULTRY INSECTS 123 

Hen lice' {Mejwpon pallidum and other species) 
Order — Mallophaga 

There are 9 or lo species of lice that infest fowls; 
they have biting mouth-parts and live upon scales of 
cast-off skin and on bits of feathers — do not suck blood; 
they irritate the fowls, however, by their presence and 
interfere with growth and egg production and are fatal 
to young chicks; these lice are permanent parasites 
and each leg ends in two sharp claws. 

The lice deposit their whitish eggs or "nits" at the 
bases of the feathers ; here they hatch and the young lice 
gradually grow into adults; life history not well known. 

Control — Use the same measures as for the mites; 
dips have been recommended but they are objectionable; 
one of the best is made by mixing i}^ ounces of pure 
carbolic acid with i gallon of hot water; when cool 
immerse the fowl in it one minute; creolin at the rate of 
2^ ounces to the gallon may be used instead; the Cornell 
powder is good for dusting fowls; it is made of i part 
crude carbolic acid, 3 parts gasoline, and enough plaster 
of Paris to take up the liquid; }\ pint of acid, y^ pint of 
gasoline and about 2^ pounds of plaster will form about 
the right proportions. Apply the powder with a sifter or 
with the fingers and work it in among the feathers. 

Scaly-leg- {Cnemidocoptes niutiuis) 
Order — Acarina 

Scaly-leg among fowls is caused by a very small mite; 
the disease is contagious and fatal if not controlled; the 
legs become covered with hard greyish crusts, the fowl 
becomes lame and finally unable to walk when it will 
eventually die. 

These minute mites live beneath the scales of the legs 
where a white powdery substance is formed which to- 
gether with the serum forms the crust. 



'Theobald — Parasitic Diseases of Poultry. 
-Theobald — Parasitic Diseases of Poultry. 



124 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Control — The disease is contagious and the affected 
fowl must be isolated; disinfect house with hot water 
and carbolic acid and then whitewash it; soak leg of 
fowl in warm water for some minutes to soften the scales ; 
then scrape them off carefully; coat with creosote i part 
and lard 20 parts or with Balsam of Peru once a day; 
the leg should be cleaned with hot water and soap. 

Depluming scabies^ {Cnemidocoptes gallince) 
Order — Acarina 

Fowls often pluck out their own feathers or those of 
their mates; the feathers often fall out of themselves, 
that is, they break off at the bases; the bases of the 
quills become filled with a white powdery substance 
among which the mites live; here they set up an irrita- 
tion that causes the fowl to pull out its own feathers; 
the disease usually commences at the rump and gradually 
spreads; the head and neck often become seriously 
affected; the mites are most abundant in spring and 
summer ; as many as ten or twelve may be found at each 
feather. 

Control — The disease is contagious and the affected 
fowl should be isolated ; dust the fowl with fresh Buhach ; 
creosote and lard are also good; Theobald rubs oil of 
cloves over the affected area. 

Pulmonary mite- (Cytodites nudus) 

Order — Acarina 

These mites inhabit the bronchial tubes even reaching 
the cavities in the pneumatic bones; the mite is readily 
seen with the eye; it is only when they are abundant 
that they cause trouble; "they sometimes occur in such 
numbers that they close up the tubes and produce 
asphyxia; this mite is of considerable size and readily 
seen with the naked eye; it is white and globular in form. 



^Theobald — Parasitic Diseases of Poultn,-. 
^Theobald — Parasitic Diseases of Poultrv. 



POULTRY INSECTS 125 

Hen flea^ {Ceratophyllus gallince) 
Order — Siphonaptera 

This hen flea is evidently not abundant in America 
having been found here but twice so far; it has sucking 
mouth parts and Hves upon the blood of its host; fleas 
are not permament parasites; they get on the hens to 
feed and when through leave them. 

The female lays her white eggs in the nests chiefly, 
but sometimes on the floor among the droppings; the 
eggs hatch into long slender white worm-like larvae that 
live on the organic matter found among the cracks and 
crevices of the house; in about two weeks they make a 
silken cocoon and change to the pupa; in two to three 
weeks the adults appear. 

Control — Same methods as advised for the control 
of the mites and lice. 



The CUBAN hen flea- {Echidnophaga gallinacea) 
Order — Siphonaptera 

The flea occurs in the Southern States and at tines 
becomes abundant and very irritating especially to sitting 
hens; they attach themselves to the face, to the wattles, 
comb, etc., and suck the blood; they finally drop off 
when mature and lay their eggs among the debris in the 
nest. 

Control — Same as for hen flea. 



Chicken tick {Argas persicus) 
Order — Acarina 
Occurs in Texas in injurious numbers. 



'Theobald — Parasitic Diseases of Poultry. 
^Herrick — Jour. Ec. Ent., Vol. i, p. 355. 



126 INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Chicken or fowl-bug {Hcemato siphon inodorus). 
Order — Hemiptera 

This is a bug closely allied to the bedbug and it some- 
times attacks sitting hens while on their nests. 
Control — Dust fowls with fresh Buhach. 

Common bedbug (Cimex lectularius) 
Order — Hemiptera 
Sometimes a pest in poultry houses. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE HOUSEHOLD 

There are many insect pests that injure the foodstuffs, 
clothing, carpets, rugs, etc., of the household, and the 
aggregate loss caused by these insects is very large. 
Moreover, many of these pests are now known to be the 
disseminators of certain human diseases, so that they 
have become important from more than one point of 
view; the more important of these household pests are 
discussed in the following pages. 

House-fly {Musca domestica) 
Order — Diptera. Manual p. 482 

The house-fly lays its white eggs in manure, decaying 
vegetable material and other garbage; they hatch in 12 
to 24 hours into the whitish maggots ; the maggots reach 
maturity in 5 or 6 days and change to pup^ which 
are enclosed in dark-brown puparia; these rest quietly 
about 5 days and then the adult comes forth ; the adults 
carry typhoid fever, cholera, tuberculosis, dysentery, 
and other enteric diseases. 

Control — Draw out stable manure once a week or 
put it in a dark closet; btiild a modern closet; screen 
whole house especially back porch ; use tanglefoot paper 
and formaldehyde, 2 tablespoonfuls in a pint of water; 
use fresh Buhach. 

Mosquitoes (Culex and Afiopheles). 
Order — Diptera. Manual, p. 437 

All mosquitoes lay their eggs on or in water or where 
water will eventually be; these (Culex pipiens) hatch 
into "wiggle tails" in 24 hours and the larvae become 
mature in a week or ten days and in a few days more the 
adults appear; all mosquitoes differ some in their life 
history but in all it is passed in the water. 

The Anopheles mosquitoes carry malaria thus causing 
much sickness and great financial loss. 



128 INSECTvS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

Control — Use oil on water; drain all pools of water; 
put fish in ponds that cannot be drained or oiled; screen 
houses; kill adults with Buhach; use bednets. 

Ants (several species) 
Order — Hymenoptera. Manual, p. 633 

The little red ant, the black carpenter ant, the pave- 
ment ant, and the small black ant, are the species most 
prevalent in houses in the North. In Louisiana, Missis- 
sippi, Texas and California, the Argentine ant is becoming 
a great and serious pest. 

Some ants make their nests on the lawns, in the walls 
of the houses, etc., while others make them in old logs, 
decaying beams, and stumps, others under stones in the 
pavement, etc. 

Control — Isolate food products; use sponges soaked 
in sweetened water; locate nests and use carbon bisul- 
phide; squirt kerosene in entrance holes and plug with 
cotton; use ant tape; use a mixture of tartar emetic 
I part, sugar 10 parts and water to moisten well. 

Clothes moths (three species) 
Order — Lepidoptera. Manual p. 257 

There are three species of these moths in the United 
States but only two are common in the North ; the larvae 
of these often do serious injury by eating holes in woolen 
garments and by damaging furs. 

Control — ^Air and shake clothes frequently; use 
moth balls; put woolens away in tight paper sacks; 
use a fumigation box. 

Carpet beetles (two species) 

Order — Coleoptera. Manual p. 539 

There are two species of carpet beetles, the so-called 
"Buffalo bug" and the black carpet beetle; they deposit 
their eggs about the edges of the carpet where they are 
feeding; these hatch and the hairy larvae feed upon the 
carpet. 



HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 129 

Control — Use rugs and finished floors; trap larvae 
with woolen cloths; spray carpets with benzine, whip 
and hang in the sunlight; wash floors with strong soap- 
suds. 

Fleas (several species) 

Order — Siphonaptera. Manual p. 490 

There are two or three species of fleas that trouble 
household inmates, the human flea and the cat and dog 
fleas; the latter are the common ones and are the ones 
usually causing the trouble; the human flea is more or 
less common in California; the cat and dog fleas lay 
their white eggs while the flea is on its host but the eggs 
drop to the floor where they hatch into long worm-like 
larvae ; these larvae live on the material found in the dirt 
along the cracks of the floor and about the baseboards; 
certain fleas disseminate disease, especially the plague. 

Control — Get rid of dog or cat or wash them often 
in a solution of creolin 4 teaspoonfuls to a quart of water 
for the dog, and 3 teaspoonfuls to a quart for the cat; 
use rugs and finished floors; wash floors with soapsuds 
and spray with benzine; use flake napthaline. 

Cockroaches (several species) 
Order — Orthoptera. Manual p. 106 

There are four species that cause trouble in the United 
States; the croton bug, the oriental roach, the American 
roach, and the Australian roach; they lay their eggs in 
a mass in a sort of brown bean-like case ; they live upon 
all kinds of food, but often contaminate with a roachy 
odor more than they eat; they injure books seriously 
at times. 

Control — Trap them; use Buhach; use borax; 
fumigate rooms with hydrocyanic acid gas ; use insect oline. 

Bedbug {Cimex lectularius) . 
Order — Hemiptera. Manual p. 140 

These insects go into houses in visitors' baggage, in 
laundry brought in from the washerwoman's; by migrat- 



I30 INSECTvS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 

ing from another adjoining house; they lay their eggs in 
the cracks of beds and multiply in great numbers; they 
are suspected of carrying disease germs. 

Control — -Use iron bedsteads; paint cracks in beds 
with gasoline, kerosene, or benzine; pour boiling water 
on the beds if not afraid of injuring varnish; fumigate 
with suplhur, 2 pounds to i ,000 cubic feet ; fumigate with 
hydrocyanic acid gas. 



Circ. 36, Clothes Moths. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bu. of Ent. 
Circ. 71, Housefly. U. S. Dept. Argi. Bu. of Ent. 
Circ. 108, House fleas. U. S. Dept. Agri. Bu. of Ent. 
Circ. 5, Carpet Beetles. U. S. Dept. Agri., Bu. of Ent. 
Circ. 34, Ants. U. S. Dept. Agri. Bu. of Ent. 
Circ. 13, Mosquitoes. U. S. Dept. Agri. Bu. of Ent. 
Bull. 4, Household Insects. U. S. Dept. Agri. Bu. of Ent. 
Circ. 2, Farmers' Wives' Reading Course. Cornell. 

Book, Insects Injurious to the Household and Annoying to Man, Glenn W. 
Herrick. 



GENERAL PLAN FOR SPRAYLNO THE APPLE ORCHARD 

L Dormant season before leaf buds open but just as they are swelling: 

a. Lime-sulfur, 32° Beaume, as a contact spray for 

San Jose scale and oyster-shell scale, dilute concentrate 1-8 
Blister mite, dilute concentrate i-ii. 

b. Add arsenate of lead, 2 lbs. to 50 gal., to the lime-sulfur as a poison for 

Bud moth 
Cigar case-bearer 
IL After leaf buds open but before blossoms open, i. e., when just beginning to 
show some pink. Watch weather and get spray on before rain, not after: 

a. Lime-sulfur solution, 32° Beaume 1-40, or bordeaux, 3-4-50, for apple 
scab (the fungus) 

b. Arsenate of lead, 2 to 3 lbs. to 50 gal., added to lime-sulfur or bordeaux as 
a poison for 

Bud moth 
Cigar case-bearer 
Cankerworm 
This application should never be omitted during cold, rainy seasons. 
in. After petals have fallen, beginning when about two thirds have fallen. 
Have spray on before rains come. This is important. 

a. Lime-sulfur, 32° Beaume 1-40, or bordeaux, 3-4-50, for 

Apple scab 
Leaf spot 

b. Arsenate of lead, 2 to 3 lbs. to 50 gal., used with lime-sulfur or Ijordeaux for 

Codling moth 
Cankerworm 
Bud moth 
This is the most important of all the applications. 

IV. Ten days to two weeks later. Before rain period: 

a. Lime-sulfur, 32° Beaume 1-40, or bordeaux, 3-4-50, for 

Apple scab 
Leaf spot 

b. Arsenate of lead, 2 to 3 lbs. to 50 gal., used with lime-sulfur or bordeaux for 

Codling moth 
Cankerworm 

V. Eight to nine weeks after blossoms fall: 

Same as IV for late scab infections and late attacks of codling moth. In most 
seasons this application is not necessary. 

If aphis appears, spray before leaves curl with whale-oil soap, i lb. to 6 gal., or 
with kerosene emulsion diluted with 6 parts of water, or use one of the tobacco 
extracts. 



GENERAL PLAN FOR SPRAYING THE PEACH ORCHARD* 

I. Dormant season before the leaf buds begin to swell : 

a. If scale is not to be combated, spray with lime-sulfur, 32° Beaum^, 1-15, 
or bordeaux, 4-4-50, or copper sulfate, 2 lbs. to 50 gal. water, for 

Peach leaf-curl 
Any of these will be effective if properly applied. Coat every bud, being sure 
to apply before buds have begun to swell at all. 

b. Lime-sulfur, 32° Beaum6, 1-7^, for 

San Jos6 scale 
This will also control peach leaf-curl. 

II. About the time the calyxes, or shucks, are shedding from the young fruit: 

a. Self -boiled lime-sulfur, 8-8-50, with arsenate of lead, 2 lbs. to 50 gal., for 
Scab 

Brown rot 
As this is rather early for scab and rot, the self-boiled lime-sulfur may be 
omitted using merely 

b. Arsenate of lead, 2 lbs. to 50 gal. of water, for 

Curculio 
If the self-boiled lime-sulfur is omitted, add to each 50 gal. water, milk of lime 
made by slaking 2 to 3 lbs. of good stone lime. This will tend to counteract any 
caustic action of the arsenate of lead. 

III. Two or three weeks later, or about one month after petals fall: 

a. Self-boiled lime-sulfur, 8-8-50, for 

Scab 
Brown rot 

b. Add 2 lbs. arsenate of lead for 

Curculio 

IV. About one month before fruit ripens: 

a. Self-boiled lime-sulfur, 8-8-50, for 

Brown rot 

b. Omit arsenate of lead. 



*Taken from U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Entomology Circular 120, pp. 6-7. 



132 



INDEX 



Page 

Acidia fratria 89 

Adalia bipunctata 8 

Agrilus anxius 1 10 

Agrilus rtificollis 72 

Agrilus sinuatus 50 

Agromyza simplex 81 

Alabama argillacea 102 

Aleyrodes vaporariorum 106 

Alfalfa pests 99 

Alfalfa leaf- weevil loi 

Alsophila pometaria 36 

Alypia octomaculata 65 

Amblyomma uiiipuncta 120 

Ampeloglypter sesostris 65 

Amphicera bicaudatus = 

Schistocerus liamatus 65 

Anarsia lineatella 54 

Anasa tristis 82 

Ancylis comptana 69 

Ania limboda 92 

Anopheles quadrimaculatus 127 

Anthonomus grandis 102 

Anthonomus s-gnatus 69 

Anthonomus quadrigibbus 42 

Ants 128 

Aphis, apple leaf 36 

Aphis avenae 35 

Aphis, black 52, 106 

Aphis brassicae 78 

Aphis, cabbage 78 

Aphis, cherry 57 

Aphis, currant 67 

Aphis, European grain 35 

Aphis forbesi 70 

Aphis gossypii 83, 103 

Aphis, green 54, 106 

Aphis maidiradicis 98, 103 

Aphis mali 36 

Aphis malif oliffi 36 

Aphis, peach 52 

Aphis persicae-niger 52 

Aphis pomi 36 

Aphis rumicis 88 

Aphis setariae 47 

Aphis, rosy apple 36 

Aphis sorbi 36 

Aphis.woolly 40 

Apple curculio 42 

Apple leaf-roller 42 

Apple maggot 38 

Apple pests 32 

Apple seed-chalcis 41 

Apple tree borers . 33 

Archips argyrospila 42, 51, 56, 59 

Archips cerasivorana 58 



^ Page 

Archips obsoletana 70 

Archips rosaceana 45, 59, 107 

Argas miniatus = Argas persicus. . 125 

Argas persicus 125 

Argopsylla gallinacea = 

Echidnophaga gallinacea 125 

Army worm 96, 97 

Arsenate of lead 15 

Arsenic, white 13 

Arsenite of lime 13 

Arsenite of copper 16 

Arsenite of zinc 16 

Arsenoid, green 17 

Asparagus beetles 80 

Asparagus miner 81 

Asparagus pests 80 

Asphondylia miki loi 

Aspidiotus forbesi 59 

Aspidiotus howardi 51 

Aspidiotus jugians-regiae 68 

Aspidiotus ostreaef ormis 47 

Aspidiotus perniciosus. . .48, 51, 56, 68 

Aspidiotus uvae 65 

Ataxia crypta 103 

Aulacaspis pentagona 56 

Aulacaspis rosae 73 

Autographa brassicas 79 

Autographa gamma-calif ornica . . . loi 

Autographa simplex 88 

Baits, poison 18 

Bean pests 86 

Bean leaf-beetle 87 

Bean weevil 87 

Bedbug 126, 129 

Bees 7 

Beet leaf-miner 86 

Beet pests 86 

Bembecia marginata 73 

Birch borer no 

Birds II 

Biting insects 10 

Blackberry pests 70 

Black death 17 

Black-leaf -40 19 

Blastophaga 8 

Blister beetle 74, 86 

Blister-mite 7, 42, 47 

Blissus leucopterus 94, 98 

Books 9 

Boophilus annulatus 118 

Bordeaux mixture 30 

Borer, flat-headed 33 

Borer, round-headed 33 

Bot-fly 119 



133 



13+ 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



Braconids 8 

Brown-tail moth 112 

Bronze birch-borer no 

Bruchophagus funebris 100 

Bruchus chinensis 88 

Bruchiis obtectus 87, 105 

Bruchus pisorum 86, 105 

Bruchus quadrimaculatus 88 

Bucculatrix pomifoliella 39 

Bud moth 34 

Buffalo tree-hopper 44 

Bug death 17 

Bumblebees 8 

Byturus imicolor 73 

Cabbage aphis 78 

Cabbage bug 79 

Cabbage looper 79 

Cabbage insects 77 

Cabbage root-maggot 77 

Cabbage worm, imported 78 

Calandra granaria 105 

Calandra oryzae 105 

Calendar, spray 131, 132 

Calosoma sycophanta 12 

Canker-worm, fall 36 

Canker-worm, spring 37 

Carabidae 8 

Carbolic acid emulsion 22 

Carbon bisulphide 25 

Carpocapsa pomonella 32, 51 

Carpet beetles 128 

Carrot rust-fly 88 

Case-tearers 34, 35 

Cassida bivittata 76 

Cassida nigripes 76 

Cattle lice 118 

Cattle pests 116 

Cattle tick 118 

Cecidomyia destrtictor = 

Mayetiola destructor 93 

Celery pests 88 

Cephus pygmaeus 97 

Ceratophyllus gallinae 125 

Ceresa bubalus 44 

Cerotoma trifurcata 87 

Cbaetocnema confinis 76 

Cherry fruit-flies 58 

Cherry leaf-miner 59 

Cherry leaf-roller . .58 

Chern,' louse, black 57 

Cherry insects 57 

Chicken bug 126 

Chicken lice 123 

Chicken mite 122 

Chicken tick 125 

Chilocorus bivulnerus 8 

Chinch bug 6, 94, 98 

Chionaspis furfura 49 

Chloridia virescens 1 04 

Chrysobothris f emorata 33 



Chrysops vittatus 120 

Cimex lectularius 126, 129 

Clothes moths 128 

Clover flower-midge 99 

Clover hay-worm 100 

Clover leaf -beetle 99 

Clover pests 99 

Clover root-borer 99 

Clover seed-chalcis 100 

Clover seed-caterpillar 100 

Cnemidocoptes gallinae 124 

Cnemidocoptes mutans 123 

Coccotorus scutellaris 46 

Cochineal 7 

Cockroaches 129 

Codling moth 7, 32 

Coleopliora fletcherella 34, 51 

Coleophora malivorella 35 

Coleoptera 10 

Colorado potato beetle 7 

Conotrachelus crataegi 56 

Conotrachelus nenuphar 45 

Contact substances 18 

Contarinia johnsoni 64 

Contarinia pyrivora 49 

Contarinia tritici 93 

Control, artificial methods of 12 

Control, natural methods of 10 

Coptocycla bicolor 76 

Corn pests 97 

Cotton-boll weevil 6, 7, 102 

Cotton pests 102 

Crambus sps 97 

Craponius inaequalis 65 

Crioceris asparagi 80 

Crioceris duodecimpunctata 80 

Cryptorhynchus lapathi no 

Cucumber beetle 81 

Culex pipiens 127 

Curculio, apple 42 

Curculio, plum 45 

Currant aphis 67 

Currant moth-borer 67 

Currant pests 66 

Currant stem-girdler 66 

Currant worm, imported 66 

Cutworms 77, 84, 85, 97 

Cyllene robinise 113 

Cytodites nudus 124 

Dasyneura leguminicola 99 

Dasyneura trifolii loi 

Datana ministra 44 

Depluming scabies 124 

Depressaria heracliana 89 

Dermanyssus gallinae. : 122 

Desmia funeralis 65 

Diabrotica longicomis 98 

Diabrotica 12-punctata 83 

Diabrotica vittata 81 

Diaphania hyalinata 83 



INDEX 



135 



Diaphania nitidalis 83 

Dicyphus minimus 104 

Diplosis pyrivora = Contarinia 

pyrivora 49 

Diplosis tritici = Contarinia tritici. 93 

Diplosis violicola 107 

Diptera 10 

Disonycha xanthomelaena 86 

Dust-spraj^ 28 

Dysdercus suturellus 103 

Eccoptogaster nigvilosus = 

Scolytus rugulosus 53 

Echidnophaga gallinacea 125 

Elm leaf-beetle 108 

Elm leaf-miner 108 

Empoasca mali 45 

Empria ignota 70 

Enarmonia interstinctana 100 

Ennomos subsignarius iii 

Entomology 5 

Ephestia kuehniella 105 

Epicauta cinerea 75 

Epidapus scabiei 75 

Epilachna borealis 83 

Epilachna varivestis 88 

Epitrix cucumeris 74 

Epitrix fuscula 75 

Epitrix parvula 75, 103 

Epochra canadensis 68 

Erannis tiliaria 45 

Eriocampoides limacina 48 

Eriophyes pyri 42, 47 

Eulecaninm armeniacum 65 

Euproctis chrysorrhoea 45, 112 

Eutettix tenella ". 86 

Euthrips pyri 50 

Euzophera semifuneralis 47 

Evergestis rimosalis 80 

Exartema malanum 45 

Fall web-worm 43, 109 

Fever, typhoid 6 

Fever, yellow 6 

Fidia viticida 60 

Fig, vSmyrna 8 

Fleas 129 

Fleas, hen 125 

Flea beetles 74, 85 

Flycatchers 12 

Formaldehyde 26 

Fruit-tree bark-beetle 52 

Fruit worms, green 41 

Fumigating substances 25 

Gad-fly 119 

Galerucella luteola 108 

Gastrophilus equi 1 19 

Gastrophilus nasalis . 119 

Gipsy moth 7, 112 

Gortyna immanis 90 



Grain insects 105 

Grape berry-moth 63 

Grape blossom-midge 64 

Grape insects 60 

Grape leaf-hopper 63 

Grape leaf-folder 65 

Grape phylloxera 60 

Grape root- worm 60 

Grape-vine flea-beetle 61 

Green aphis 54 

Green fruit worms 41 

Greenhouse pests 106 

Gj'mnonychus appendiculatus ... 68 

Haematobia serrata 117 

Hajmatopinus eurysternus 117 

Hagmatopinus urius 120 

Haematopinus vituli* 117 

Hajmatosiphon inodorus 126 

Haltica chalybea 61 

Harrisina americana 65 

Hartigia abdominalis 73 

Hawks II 

Heat 26 

Heliophila unipuncta 96, 97 

Heliothis obsoleta 85, 98, 102, 104 

Hellebore 17 

Hellula undalis 80 

Hemerocampa leucostigma. . . .38, 109 

Hemiptera 10 

Hen flea 125 

Hessian fly 6, 93 

Heterocordylus malinus 40 

Hickory bark-borer iii 

Hippodamia convergens 8, 12 

Hog louse 120 

Holcocera nialigemmella 45 

Honey 7 

Hop merchants 91 

Hop-plant borer 90 

Hop-plant louse 90 

Hop- vine snout-moth 91 

Hoplocampa cookei 59 

Hartigia abdominalis 73 

Horn-fly 117 

Horse pests 119 

House-fly 7, 127 

Household insects 127 

Hyalopterus arundinis 47 

Hydrocyanic acid gas 25 

Hylastinus obscurus 99 

Hymenoptera 8, 10 

Hypena humuli 91 

Hypera punctata = 

Phytonomus punctata 99 

Hyphantria cunea 43, 109 

Hypoderma lineata 116 

Hypsopygia costalis 100 

Ichneumon flies '8 

Insect parasites .... 8 



136 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



Insecticides, contact 12 

Insecticides, poison. . 12 

Isosoma grande 95 

Isosoma tritici 96 

Itch, sheep 1 14 

Janus integer 66 

Kaliosysphinga ulmi 108 

Kerosene emulsion 21 

Lachnosterna sps 68, 97, 107 

Ladybird beetles 8 

Languria mozardi loi 

Lanterns 26 

Laphygma exigua 86 

Lasioderma serricorne 104 

Laws, insecticide and quarantine 30, 31 

Leaf-bug, 4-lined 68 

Leaf-roller 42 

Lecanium corni 46 

Lecanium nigrofasciatum 55 

Lepidoptera 10 

Lepidosaphes ulmi 39 

Leptinotarsa lo-lineata 74 

Leucania unipuncta = 

Heliophila unipuncta 96 

Lice, cattle 117 

Lice, poultry 123 

Ligyrus gibbosus 89 

Lime-sulfur 22, 23, 24 

Linden moth 1 1 1 

Literature 9 

London purple ." 17 

Losses by insects 5. 6, 7 

Loxostege sticti calls 86 

Lycia cognataria 68 

Lygidea mendax 40 

Lygus invitus 51 

Lygus pratensis 55, 89 

Lyperosia irritans = 

Haematobia serrata 117 

Macrodactylus subspinosus 62 

Macrosiphum pisi 87 

Magdalis senescens 45 

Malacosoma americana 37, 56 

Malacosoma disstria 38 

Malaria 6 

Mayetiola destructor = 

Cecidomyia destructor 93 

Melittia satyriniformis 82 

Melon pests 82 

Melon louse 83 

Melophagus ovinus 115 

Meromyza americana 95 

Menopon pallidum 123 

Metallus rubi 73 

Mineola indigenella 45 

Miscible oils 22 



Monophadnus rubi 71 

Mosquitoes 6, 127 

Moth, clothes 128 

Musca domestica 127 

Murgantia histrionica 79 

Myzus cerasi 57 

Myzus mahaleb 47 

Myzus persicae 54 

Myzus ribis 67 

Nectarophora avenae 97 

Nectarophora chrysanthemicolens 106 

Nepticula slingerlandella 47 

Neurotoma inconspicua 47 

Nico-ftmie 19 

Nozzles 29 

Nuthatches 12 

Oberea bimaculata 70 

Oecanthus nigricornis 65, 71 

Oestrus ovis 114 

Oils . . .- 21 

Onion Maggot 83 

Onion thrips 84 

Orioles 12 

Orthoptera 10 

Otiorhvnchus ovata 70 

Owl . ." II 

Ox- warble 116 

Oxyptilus periscelidactylus 65 

Oyster-shell bark-louse 39 

Pachynematus extensicornis 97 

Paleacrita vernata 37 

Palmer-worm 44 

Pamphilius persicus 56 

Papaipema nitela 98 

Papilio polyxenes 88, 89 

Paracalocoris scrupeus 92 

Paragrene 17 

Paralucilia macellaria = 

Compsomyia macellaria 120 

Parasitic insects 8, 12 

Paris green 13, 14, 15 

Parsnip pests 89 

Pea aphis 87 

Pea weevil 86 

Peach aphis, black 52 

Peach aphis, green 54 

Peach insects 51 

Peach lecanium 55 

Peach-tree bark-beetle 53 

Peach-tree borer 51 

Peach twig-borer 54 

Pear blight beetle 51 

Pear borer, sinuate 50 

Pear insects 47 

Pear midge 49 

Pear psylla 47 

Pear slug 48 

Pear thrips 50 



INDEX 



137 



Pegomya brassicEe 77 

Pegomya cepetorum 83 

Pegomya vicina 86 

Pemphigus betae 86 

Phlegethontius quinquemaculata . 85 

Phlegethontius sexta 103 

Phloeotribus liminaris 53 

Phylctasnia ferrugalis 89, 107 

Phorbia fusiceps 88, 98 

Phorbia rubivora 72 

Phorodon humuli 90 

Phthorimcea operculella 75, 104 

Phylloxera vastatrix 60 

Phytonomus murinus loi 

Phytonomus nigrirostris loi 

Phytomyza chrysanthemi 107 

Plagionotus speciosus 113 

Plodia interpunctella 105 

Plum curculio 45, 56 

Plum gouger 46 

Plum insects 45 

Plum scale 46 

Plutella maculipennis 80 

Poecilocapsus lineatus 68 

Poisons 12, 13 

Polychrosis viteana 63 

Polygonia comma 91 

Polygonia interrogationis 91 

Pontia protodice 80 

Pontia rapse 78 

Poplar borer no 

Porthetria dispar 45, in 

Potato flea-beetle 74 

Potato insects 74, 76 

Potato stalk-borer 75 

Poultry pests 122 

Predaceous insects 8, 12 

Profenusa collaris 59 

Pseudanthonomus crateegi 45 

Pseudococcus trifolii loi 

Psila rosae 88, 89 

Psoroptes communis 114 

Psylla pyricola 47 

Psylliodes punctulata 92 

Pteronus ribesii 66 

Pterophorus monodactylus 76 

Pulmonary mite 124 

Pulvinaria innumerabilis 65, n3 

Pulvinaria vitis 65 

Pumps 29 

Pyrethrum 19 

Quince curculio 56 

Rachela bruceata 45 

Raspberry cane-borer 70 

Raspberry' cane-maggot 72 

Raspberry root-borer 73 

Raspberr}' saw-fly 71 

Red-bugs 40 

Red-humped apple- worm 43 



Red-necked cane-borer 72 

Red spider 73, 92, 103, 106 

Repellants for stock 120 

Rhagoletis cingulata 58 

Rhagoletis fausta 58 

Rhagoletis ribicola 68 

Rhagoletis pomonella 38 

Ribbed cocoon-maker 39 

Rose chafer 62 

San Jos6 scale 7. 48 

Sanninoidea exitiosa 51 

Saperda Candida 33, 113 

Saperda tridentata 113 

Scab, sheep 114 

Scaly-leg 123 

Schistocerus hamatus = 

Amphicerus bicaudatus 65 

Schizoneura lanigera 40 

Schizura concinna 43 

Scolytus quadrispinosus in 

Scolytus rugulosus = 

Eccoptogaster rugulosus 53 

Scurfy bark-louse 49 

Semasia nigricana 88 

Sesia pictipes 56 

Sesia rutilans 70 

Sesia tipuliformis 67 

Shade-tree pests 108 

Sheep louse 116 

vSheep pests 114 

Sheep tick 115 

Shellac 7 

Silk-worms 7 

Silvanus surinamensis 105 

Simulium meridionale 120 

Simulium pecuarum 120 

Sitones flavescens loi 

Sitones hispidulus loi 

Sitotroga cereal ella 105 

Slug-shot 17 

Soaps 20 

Sphenophorus sp 98 

Spinach pests 86 

Spraying, history of 27 

vSquash bug 82 

Squash-vine borer 82 

Stock, repellants for 120 

Stomoxys calcitrans 120 

Stored grain pests 105 

Strawberry insects 68 

Strawberry weevil 69 

Sucking insects 10 

Sulfur, soluble 25 

Swallows 12 

Syntomaspis druparum 41 

vSyrphidas 8 

Tabanus atratus 119 

Tabanus exul 120 

Tachinidae 8 



138 



INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



Tanglefoot 27 

Tarnished plant-bug 55 

Tarnished plant-bug, false 55 

Tent caterpillars 37> 38 

Tetranychus telarius. .73, 92, 103, 106 

Thrips tabaci 84 

Tipulidse 97 

Tmetocera ocellana 34 

Tischeria malifoliella 43 

Titmice 12 

Tobacco flea beetle 1 03 

Tobacco pests 103 

Tobacco 19 

Tobacco paper 26 

Tomato pests 85 

Torch, gasoline 27 

Toxoptera graminum 97 

Trap lanterns 26 

Tree-cricket, striped 65, 71 

Treeleim 28 

Tremex columba 113 

Trichobaris trinotata 75 

Trichodectes scalaris 118 

Trichodectes sphasrocephalus .... 116 

Tritoxa flexa 84 

Trumpet leaf-miner 43 

Tussock moth 38, 109 



Tyloderma fragariae 70 

Typhlocyba comes 63 

Typophorus canellus 70 

Violet gall-fly ■ 107 

Vireos 12 

Warblers 12 

Wax 7 

Wheat joint-worm 96 

Wheat midge 93 

Wheat-stem maggot 95 

Wheat straw- worm 95 

White-fly 106 

White gntbs 7, 68, 97 

Wire worms 94, 97 

Woodpeckers 11 

Wren 11 

Xyleliorus dispar 51 

Xylina antennata 41, 51 

Xylina laticinerea 41 

Yellow-necked caterpillars 44 

Ypsolophus ligulellus 44 

Zeuzera pyrina 113 



PRESS OF W. F. HUMPHREY, GENEVA, N. Y. 



y BRARV OF CONGRESS 
OOOOfiflfloiib 




